The Reason Why 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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THE REASON WHY ; 



OR, 



SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES 



OF 



MRS. JULIA CRAFTS SMITH, 



PHYSICIAN, 



ASSISTED BY HER SPIRIT GUIDES. 



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2 1881 )) , 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
1881. 



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COPYRIGHTED BY 

MRS. JULIA CRAFTS SMITH. 

1881. 



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PREFACE. 



All books, like individuals, have their place in this 
world, and serve a purpose, for the benefit of the race ; and 
if this little volume, written by me, at the suggestion of a 
spirit father, cheers one despondent heart, I shall be amply 
paid. Of the criticisms it may meet, I have no fears, as I 
have not aspired to make this book great, but truthful. 
Neither do I boast of its merits as a scholarly production ; 
it is only to encourage those who have been by circumstances 
denied an education ; — and their aspirations have met with a 
ready response from the spirit world, through Inspiration. 

I dedicate this book to J. A. and O. W. N , for 

their kindness to me and mine in the past ; — "I was sick 

and they visited me; an hungered, and they fed me ; in 

trouble they came unto me." And after I have passed from 

earth, may my life encourage them in all good works, and 

teach them, that out of God's abundance, comes all there is 

in the earth ; that spiritual blessings are not made up of 

material things, but come as an influx out of the Spirit 

world. 

Julia C. Smith. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Strange as it may seem to those unacquainted with the 
science of Spirit Communion, (although possibly believers in 
the immortality of the s^ul,) that after many years wander- 
ing in spirit life and spirit land, I return, and through my 
beloved child, write an introduction to a little work dedicated 
to my wife, M. A. Norcross, who in my young days fought 
the battle of life with me. 

Though we differed much in our theological views, in 
consequence, it made us somewhat estranged in our spiritual 
belief ; yet to me my earthly life bears a happy record, for the 
firmness of her with whom I was united, kept me, who was 
not only influenced by those in the body, but by those out of 
it, — acting as acted upon, ignorant of the why and where- 
fore, till I passed to the Spirit World. Then, as I met the 
Spirit Band, who had been watching and waiting, my mind 
unfolds to the truth, — / was a Medium! 

And now, after years of anxious waiting, beholding my 
child buffeting the storms of life, under many difficulties, and 
by that discipline drawing nearer the spirit world, by desiring 
the rest and peace that comes therefrom, — opening her inner 
life to a spirit band, who have always, since her childhood, 
been watching the progress of her mental capacities, and 
5 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

holding such communications with her from time to time, as 
to fit and prepare her for a work for the benefit of humanity, 
and as I have had this work under contemplation for some 
time, and meeting with those who have a desire to assist in 
any good work, I hereby, with feelings of thankfulness to 
God, assist my daughter in putting forth a few Spiritual 
Truths. 

Jesse S. Norcross. 



THE REASON WHY. 



— ♦*- 



CHAPTER I. 

It is not all of life to live, simply ; but all that is 
given to every child of earth, must be sown, like seed, 
to spring up among the children of men. 

Thus and always, there will be those who are Phre- 
nologically organized, to transmit, through the law 
of inspiration, truths to benefit the human race. But 
as long as Destiny rules the children of earth, and a 
Planetary Law in many ways govern them, just so 
long will it be necessary for Spirits to assist them to 
understand why they are here, and for what purpose ; 
and while so many truths are hidden in the hearts of 
those God has seen fit to elect from the many, and 
they continue to hide their " lights under a bushel," 
just so long will Spirits come and throw their positive 
influence upon Mediums, to bring that truth to light, 
by acting upon every one who keeps from the world, 
that which a loving God sends through them, to those 
who are denied by nature inspirational knowledge ; 
and it is time that they should have encouragement, 
by reading the experience of others from our realm, 

7 



8 THE REASON WHY. 

that it may be a guide to them, after Mediums like 
this, with many others, have passed to us. to receive 
the " Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 
Oh! the precious experiences of earth-life. Gems, 
hidden from the gaze of the many, locked up in the 
human soul, that should be brought out of the dark 
cells of your lives, to open the eyes and ears of those 
that live on the earth, to strengthen them, and teach 
them that the great vein of sympathy that runs 
through human life, cannot be broken by any law, 
*that can possibly be made by man. Children of earth, 
why struggle against the God-given light that comes 
to you in your lonely hours, when unseen loved ones 
are hovering near, trying to give you light in the 
darkness which surrounds your spiritual vision. Re- 
member, that as you spiritualize yourself by doing 
good to others, so you attract the loved ones, who are 
not dead but gone before. 

Lingering upon, or near the earth in anxiety 
concerning my wife and children, and especially this 
child, whose mediumistic powers attracted me to her, 
and gave me the power of progressing more rapidly 
in my spirit home, by bringing those missionaries in 
spirit life to me, whose great desire was to do good 
to those in the earth life, — and feeling that my in- 
fluence over my darling child would open the gate- 
way through her mental faculties much easier than any 
influence that was strange to her, as she might 



THE REASON WHY. 9 

repulse them at any time : — for be assured that the 
will of a mental medium can always prevent her 
being controlled or entranced. 

It seems but yesterday that I left Boston, and wife 
and children, to wander after gain in a strange land. 
My last night in Boston was passed in this child's 
home, and the vision of her trials and cares came up 
before me. But in the same vision I beheld her 
triumphantly putting all her troubles behind her, and 
moving on with a band of bright spirits bearing three 
flags, — Spiritual Strength, Mental Activity, and In- 
tellectual Growth. Many other scenes came up 
before me. My sister, also, (who had appeared to me 
years before), assuring me of her care and love, but 
telling me that I would never return to my home 
again ; as my home in the spirit world was most ready 
for me. Oh ! the mental agony of that day in the 
A.D. 1850. I did not dare to tell my wife, as she did 
not believe in any of the so-called superstitions which 
I entertained ; her physical health being poor, I tried 
to believe it was a dream occasioned by my sad feel- 
ings at leaving home and family. 

I had in years gone by seen my sister many times, 
and she had proven to me beyond a doubt, of the 
existence of our loved ones, in a future life. But 
owing to my wife's bigotry and orthodox views, I was 
obliged to keep in my inner life, many things which 
might have hastened the coming light that earth's 



10 THE REASON WHY. 

children now enjoy. It was my sister Belle coming to 
me, and what she said, that made me take up the 
bodies of my brothers and sisters, sometime buried, 
and burn them to stay the ravages of consumption in 
my family, which was a success, no one having died 
of that disease for forty-five years. I think now that 
her first visit to me, and her free conversation with 
me occurred in A.D. 1829, also in 1831 ; and again in 
1833. But receiving opposition from those who did 
not have the power to see what I saw, and desiring 
peace instead of war, I sometimes rushed into any- 
thing to keep me from seeing or thinking of the many 
wonderful things which were open to my spiritual 
vision. But when the Bible was brought into con- 
sideration by those of a different belief, it was then 
that my very soul was stirred within me, and I felt 
that if there was more love and truth, there would be 
less discord in earth life ; and I have not changed my 
mind in that respect, though a sojourner in spirit life 
thirty years. Many years before I had promised my 
wife that if I died first, I would come and tell her if 
my belief in Universal Salvation was true or false. 
And if she passed away first she also was to come (if 
permitted to return, which she did not believe), and 
tell me if there was a Hell for unfortunate spirits. 
But it was my destiny to open the gateway of spirit 
communion between her spirit and mine, by passing 
away first. 



THE REASON WHY. 11 

Away from home and friends in a strange land, 
where civilization had not her laws enforced, men 
were more like vampires or demons, than men ; heed- 
ing not the Christian precepts of " loving your neigh- 
bor as yourself," or of "ministering unto him when 
he is sick," as God has commanded in His record. 

When will Spirituality so far overcome the evil in 
men's natures, that they will not be forgetful of the 
spirit within the casket of clay, and contribute to its 
needs rather than looking only to see how much they 
may be enriched, by what little wordly goods they 
may die possessed of. 

Believe me, I have no desire to dwell upon my 
sufferings or mental agony in my dying moments; 
suffice it to say, that all the gold in the mines of 
California, if within my control, I would have freely 
given, to have felt the hand of my beloved wife or 
children, and to hear words of love and kindness, 
from those who were dearer to me than life. And let 
me say, dear reader, to all : cherish the love of rela- 
tions and friends on earth, remembering it is only 
love and spirituality that can be taken from this 
material abode. And the spirit is poor indeed, when 
entering spirit life, if poverty of spirit exist within 
them ; and still worse if they have so lived, that no 
loving soul sends up from earth, that longing and 
loving telegram to bring us to them. Oh ! man and 
woman, seek to cover the faults of your friends, and 



12 THE KEASON WHY. 

search diligently for all the good, that it may bring 
out of them all the good, and help to overcome all 
that is evil .in their natures; that by-and-by when 
they or you have passed on, the connecting link of 
love may be the railroad on which the spirit can 
return, and that it was well that you had lived, and 
also well, that you passed over, according to a law 
in nature. 

But God in His goodness never gave any one a cup 
of sorrow unmixed with joy. Oh ! no : and my 
a*gony at being separated from my loved ones, was, 
as soon as I had passed from my body, and become 
emancipated from pain and suffering, well repaid by 
meeting my darling children, brothers and sisters ; and 
that sister who had many times stood at my side 
while I was in the form, was there to give me wel- 
come, and assure me that I could fulfill my promise 
to those I had left in the flesh. 

Oh! heavenly thought; out of the darkness of 
despair and suffering, into the light of love and 
happiness. Spiritual light. But those greetings and 
thoughts were of short duration, as love being the 
stronger element in my nature, I began to ask myself, 
what my family would say, when not receiving a 
letter or word from me ; and I only thought it, 
when Belle, who read my inner life best, said to me, 
" Jesse, you remember how I came to you ? Go to 
them in the same way, and relieve their anxiety con- 



THE REASON WHY. 13 

cerning your silence. I can assist you." And amidst 
all the beauties of my spirit entrance, I had not 
changed my mind, but still had a desire to return and 
fulfill my promise. I did not find it hard to do, as 
my longing was so great, and with my sister I jour- 
neyed homeward. It seemed a long time ; but to my 
astonishment I was told I had only been out of the 
body thirteen hours, before I was striving to make 
them understand that I was there, bereft of all that 
belonged to my physical life, endeavoring, by every 
faculty I could put forth, to arrest their attention. I 
had also the carefulness to not wish to frighten those 
I wanted to reach. I have since learned from Willie, 
who has come to me, (but was then in the physical 
body,) that he beheld me by his medium powers, and 
that my wife was truly convinced I was there, by my 
attempts to use a drum, which was mine, and that I 
used to use, before leaving home for California, — 
which she acknowledged by changing her views for a 
more rational theological belief. I was then informed 
by my brother James, that my daughter Julia was 
destined to become an avenue for spiritual manifesta- 
tion, through her mental faculties, and that I was 
called home to assist in the work, as being nearer 
and dearer to her. I might, through my death, bring 
her nearer to light and life ; and I, with others, stood 
beside her, letting into her life the words of inspira- 
tion, and a new growth, for twelve years, before we 



14 THE REASON WHY. 

could herald forth that a new worker was in the 
vineyard, declaring God's goodness to his children. 
But still I assure you, we are cognizant of the fact, 
that all development comes through suffering, and 
many years of this medium's life, physically, were 
used up to sustain her brain. But out of the disci- 
pline of her suffering, we knew would come a benefit, 
not only to herself, spiritually, — but by her election 
for her work; we, her guides, well knew we could 
assist suffering humanity. For, my dear reader, let 
me here say to you, that whomsoever is elected by the 
Celestial Spheres, to serve as servants to the spirit 
world, are elected from their infancy, and will accom- 
plish the work assigned to them. They may suffer in 
mind and body, but the work they are fitted for is an 
especial work, and must be done ; we must have 
avenues laid out, through which to communicate, (or 
to travel ;) sacrifices must be made ; and if through 
the peril of life, the chosen one gets disheartened, 
there must another tie be broken, another chair be 
vacant, or another cradle be empty, to bring the 
medium's spirit heavenward. So you can see link 
after link was broken, that my darling child might 
look up, and health fail her, that she might loose her 
hold on earthly things, and come up higher in thought 
and feeling; and when life became irksome to her, 
and sadness and sorrow seem to surround her, and 
the physical was weakened with disease, and de- 



THE REASON WHY. 15 

ception and the false-heartedness of those whom she 
had loved best, came up before her, then, and not till 
then, did we get her to yield to our influence, and to 
do the work as it must be done. I think that was 
about A.D. 1863, that we felt we had accomplished a 
work we could praise God for ; she being then about 
thirty-one years old. Now, let me say here, that all 
true mediums, are chosen, because they have organ- 
izations adapted to the use of those workers who 
desire to accomplish a good work on your plain. 

And I would here say to those readers of this, that 
no one, either high or low, learned or unlearned, 
should in anywise condemn, or abuse one of these 
chosen ones, no matter whatsoever your opinion of 
the case may be, unless you can first understand the 
working of God's mighty law in spirit life. You 
have not any right to judge, lest you bring upon 
yourself a mighty judgment for your unbelief. 

How can you believe in a God you have not seen, 
if you do not render justice to his chosen ones, who 
take up the crosses of life, and bear them patiently, 
meeting with scoff and scorn, knowing that they are 
sustained by the light you know nothing of. At this 
time, my daughter's health was so frail, that we 
desired her to recover, to begin the great work 
before her. And I, being chosen to manifest myself 
in such manner as to encourage her, and also to give 
her physical health and strength, and such information 



16 THE REASON WHY. 

cerning what was desired of her, and to get from her 
a promise to dedicate her life to our work, which she 
did, and has done, regardless of opposition, or lack of 
encouragement or material aid. But as one of God's 
laws is, " as you sow so shall ye also reap," so in due 
time she shall reap more abundantly than she has 
sown ; and the many of God's children she has in no 
wise turned away, so shall it be meted out to her and 
hers, as she has measured to others. 

About the time we began to control her, and use 
ner brain, and encourage her to stand at the post of 
duty, she was communicating with me. One eve- 
ning I told her her brother William should not go to 
California, that he would never return if he did ; but 
he, like all who hear the word and do not believe, 
went to California ; any other country would have 
been better. As his planetary law gave him Jupiter 
as a metal in his composition, the coming to a coun- 
try where metal was then a condition in the elements, 
he, also, in accordance with the laws of accident, came 
to spirit life. Finding a work begun, he, with all his 
strength of youth and manhood, swung wide open 
the door between the physical and spiritual world. 
He, having a surplus of vitality to use, having passed 
out of the body in full strength, and mother, sisters 
and friends, became interested in the work we had 
begun ; and it has ever been his end and aim to assist 
in the duties assigned her. 



THE REASON WHY. 17 

How little is known of the connection, or links, 
that bind the spirit world to this ! How many false 
theories are advanced by the theological world, and 
the workers who advance their ideas. If they were 
only obliged to bring proof of what they put forth, 
there would not be so much that is not reasonable, or 
so many false ideas advanced ; but every one would 
be obliged to give a reason for the faith that is in 
them ; and it would give mediums an opportunity to 
give more explanation concerning the mediumistic 
life, which they do not choose themselves, but who 
are chosen by unseen ones. And instead of being 
treated as if it was something to their discredit, their 
friends should rejoice that they have even one who is 
God's chosen disciple ; — for most any medium can 
prove that spirits do return to the earth. But I deny 
the power of any theologian, to prove by his theology, 
that spirits ever leave the earth. 

Ah! reader, remember that God's laws are un- 
changeable ; and you or yours may be called for 
some especial work, in due time, and there is no 
power on earth to prevent, when it is once decided on 
our plain. 

Those dear guardian angels, who have walked side 
by side from their earliest infancy, know best who is 
fitted for the work. And it is their report to the 
angelic hosts that makes the chosen ones of God. 
Acts, x. : 34, 35. And what God has chosen, say thou 



18 THE KEASON WHY. 

is not fit to fill the place that he has assigned them, 
and must be filled. Read what the voice said to Peter 
and be silent. Acts, xi. : 5 — 9. 

After my son William came to us, his desire was to 
be in rapport with his sister; and for three years, 
long and faithful, did he traverse earth-plain by her 
side, interesting her in all good works which he was 
interested in while on earth. 

But those guides that formed her medical band, 
held her to her promise, to relieve the sick and suffer- 
.ing everywhere; and also to bear testimony to the 
truth of spirit communion, and God's universal love, 
to the children of men, and taught her to fear not 
the inquisition of public opinion ; for any one who 
interests themselves in any good work, must expect 
the lash of censure, as long as there is so much 
ignorance and sensualism on your earth. Men, 
until they are pure themselves, can never see purity 
in others ; they believe what they see and hear, and 
realize, by their perverted senses; never suspecting 
that the diseases of the physical body, so affect the 
mental and moral nature, that correct judgment, or 
unbiased, is an impossibility. 

When we see the greatest blessings perverted by 
those who should be instructors for good, instead of 
feeding the lower faculties of man, it makes me ask, 
what of the coming future ? And who has the moral 
courage, to weed out from the press and pulpit, those 



THE REASON WHY. 19 

evils that are undermining and corrupting society? 
Is it to be wondered at, that falsehood and deception, 
scandal and sensualism, hypocrisy and deceit are 
running riot in your midst, when your daily and 
weekly papers are filled with rottenness and slime, 
fed out without stint to the masses at two and three 
cents a day ? Great heavens ! will men never under- 
stand the great principle of life : that a lie is a lie ! 
told for nothing or money, it makes no difference. A 
thief is a thief ! no matter whether he steals millions 
of money, or the reputation of his fellow man or 
woman. It is not what he takes from his earthly 
possessions; that all comes out of God's bounteous 
stores ; but the eternal principle of truth is perverted. 

There would be no need of so much unnecessary 
material used to build lofty edifices, to stand out as a 
sign of a wicked and immoral race. It is not expen- 
sive churches that come up to spirit life, but the 
true and sincere souls that worship within their 
walls. Beautiful edifices, transplanted on your plain, 
sent forth to the mighty and noble intellects of earth, 
through receptive inspiration from our world ! 

But why not make the worshippers true and earn- 
est men and women, by giving them the truthful assur- 
ance, that there are unseen intelligences recording 
the spirituality of their lives ? What man or woman 
was ever any worse, for believing in a good or lov- 
ing God, and the ministrations of their unseen 



20 THE REASON WHY. 

friends ? If we are honest with ourselves, and have 
no sins to hide, we have nothing to fear. 

What man was ever any better for a belief in an- 
nihilation, or that ignored the cause that produces the 
effects that you see around you in earth-life ? What 
mother feels happier to know that her babe has gone 
into some vegetable life, or to perdition for the lack 
of baptism? 

When the mighty truth of spiritualism gives com- 
fort to a lonely heart, and assures the mother of a 
meeting with her loved ones by-and-by, why cling 
to theories that degrade the true principle of life. 
All theories which represent God as an angry father, 
or revengeful, not only degrade the believer, but the 
God whom they worship ; and all those who desire 
annihilation, or try to build up a belief that there is 
no life beyond this earth of yours, must lose sight of 
that astronomical phenomenon, which the starry world 
proclaims nightly to earth's children's short vision. 

Better believe in your transit to other and larger 
planets, that are swinging in space, than to doubt the 
goodness of God, or his ability to care for his chil- 
dren, without sending them to perdition ; with no 
chance of progressing. Man did not come here of his 
own accord, and in consequence, is not responsible 
for the place he shall occupy hereafter. 

Why do men study so hard to believe anything but 
the simple truth, because they are striving to " climb 



THE REASON WHY. 21 

up some other way," than by learning one great 
truth, simple as it is, that there is no death, all is 
life, nothing is lost, but all is changing and going on 
through all eternity under a law of evolution. 

But I stray from my purpose in writing this. It is 
to show why my child or any other is obliged to walk 
in a way peculiar to a mediumistic life, amidst thorns 
and thistles, bearing many crosses, meeting opposition 
that must arise in such a life ; but by-and-by they will 
learn, that where roses grow, thorns must abide, and 
both will be found growing side by side. 

But, fond mother, though there is no consolation 
given you by others, we come to tell you that your 
darling child will be well cared for, nourished and fed 
by loving ones in the summer land. And if your 
love is the true mother's love, and you miss its 
loving smile and tiny form — by that law you hold 
him or her, in your atmospheric surroundings, until 
such time as it can leave you, without giving you 
loneliness of spirit. Still, if you feel that those little 
ones are a burden to you, they will not stay with you, 
but will wing their way where they are not an un- 
welcome guest. 

Would you behold the real mourners in the spirit 
life? They are those whose friends have draped them- 
selves in black to show to an indifferent world what 
a loss they have met with, and forgetful of the link 
of affection, which is the only chain that can unite 



22 THE REASON WHY. 

them on earth or in spirit life. To die and be for- 
gotten by your friends is enough to make sad 
any sensitive soul. Think of your loved and lost 
ones, and the telegraph you send out from your spirit, 
will not only benefit you, but those who have passed 
on, to realize the quickening of the love element, in 
their spirit home. 

Oh! to mourn and miss a loved one! 
'Tis a right that God has given; 
And it is a chain that links us 
To a home, that's ours, in Heaven. 



THE REASON WHY. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

It may seem strange, at a time like the present, 
when the human race are laboring under so many 
changes, and strife and discord seem to rule the hour, 
and perfect confidence seems to be a principle of the 
past, that we should desire to bring our mite into 
existence, to assist and encourage those who are dis- 
heartened, and who are in the depths of doubt, and 
fast verging into the channels of despair. There 
never was a time, when so many souls were sending 
up their spirits, asking the whys and wherefores 
of life. 

In the past ages, dark ignorance made them submit 
to the higher authorities ; but to-day every one thinks 
for themselves, and fast travel out from under the old 
superstitions and terrible creeds that bound them. 
The old tortures of the past are fast going out on 
both continents, for a new era to come in, to bless the 
children of God. And why not? Have there not 
been blood shed enough ? Has there not been crimes 
enough committed? Has there not been suffering 
enough ? Have not the innocent and the poor been 



24 THE REASON WHY. 

crushed enough to satisfy this monster, " The Estab- 
lished Church," that would take away the liberties 
from the ' people, and compel them to think and act 
according to its dogmas ? 

Who gave them all knowledge ? Not God, to be 
sure ! for the diversity of opinion is necessary to 
mental growth ; and not any of them have ever been 
to the spirit world, to gain knowledge which they can 
positively affirm is true. 

How dare they presume that God has given them 
any more spiritual knowledge than he has the hum- 
blest of his creatures ? Jesus was chosen from the lowly. 
And why ? Because false knowledge gained, would 
have been an impediment to the inspiration of God's 
truth. 

If it was not for your liberal government of to-day, 
your religions, based upon the atonement, would be 
no better than in the past. Keep God out of the 
constitution of state and nation, if you do not wish 
the inquisition of the past. He belongs, not in the 
constitution of nations, but in your souls. 

It is those liberal minds who have revered God 
most, and loved the children of earth best, that have 
permeated your religious systems, until they are as 
tolerant as we find them to-day. 

So, give yourselves no credit for your liberality ; it 
was the law of force, — not that of love, as it should 
have been ; and believe me, you will reap your reward. 



THE REASON WHY. 25 

In bringing this simple offering before her friends, 
I must take np many links of her life, and try to ar- 
range a chain of circumstances and truths, that will 
encourage all the chosen mediums of God, that they 
may not fall by the wayside of life, but persevere unto 
the end; for out of the darkness of the past, comes 
a great light for the future. 

No man or woman can rise above the masses, spir- 
itually or mentally, but must expect to be a mark to 
be shot at continually, by those who do not, and 
those who will not understand them. For, until the 
bands of ignorance are broken, those laboring under 
its galling chains, will cry fraud, as their souls are in 
the prison of unbelief. Inspiration now, as in olden 
times, gives a mortal being precedence in your world ; 
and that very precedence will create enemies among 
the ignorant and malicious. Men and women should 
learn the lesson well taught by one who suffered per- 
secution from his fellow men. That knaves or fools 
were not troubled with enemies, so to meet obstacles 
and overcome them, shows spiritual growth, as it 
strengthens the mental and moral nature. Opposi- 
tion is a natural growth, and walks side by side with 
Progression. All experience teaches us, that knowl- 
edge is the only key that can unlock for you the 
Kingdom of Heaven ; and, as it is, nearly two thou- 
sand years have passed, and you are still groping in 
darkness concerning the spirit world ; for ignorance 



26 THE REASON WHY. 

still flaunts her . banner, regardless of the fact, that 
struggling up out of the darkness is a mighty truth. 
The science of spirit communion, saying to the peo- 
ple of earth, try to understand the law of your physi- 
cal bodies, for they are the temple of the spirit, and 
the mistakes of the past have been from a lack of in- 
formation concerning the relation that exists between 
the mental, spiritual and physical bodies. Reason 
has been dethroned, to give way to selfishness and 
hypocrisy, until your nation seems to be a nation of 
hypocrites, who have lost faith in themselves and also 
in their fellow men. 

Why this terrible dilemma of to-day ? It is because 
mammon, and injustice, and a lack of spirituality in 
mortals, and want of possession where there is so 
much profession, is filling the world with woe. And 
if it was not for some of your silent and unobtrusive 
workers that are always sending up to the spirit 
world, their thanksgiving and praise, and throwing 
their magnetic influence into your life for good, you 
might realize a Sodom and Gomorrah as in olden 
times. 

Why not understand this? That the law that 
unites the electric and magnetic forces on your earth, is 
a harmonic law, and well studied, will bring happiness 
to all who desire to promote the happiness of their 
fellows. Would it not be well to understand that the 
book of nature, united with the eternal book of 



THE REASON WHY. 27 

intuition, solves more scientific problems, than all the 
congresses of scientists in the world ? 

Away back in the past, how boldly men advocated, 
suffered, and died, to promulgate a truth ; and those 
truths lived. But behold the numberless errors that 
were sent forth by men who considered themselves 
and their doctrines infallible, which present expe- 
rience teaches were not only false, but worthless; 
and earth's children, to-day, are suffering from their 
ignorance and wicked willfulness. For instance, the 
treatment of the sick; by administering poisons, 
burning and bleeding, cauterizing, blistering, cup- 
ping, salviating and torturing to make the sick well. 
And to-day another extreme comes before you ; not 
so much suffering attending, but equally as dan- 
gerous, — bromides, morphine, hydrate of chloral, 
arsenicum, iron and minerals of any kind, — ignoring 
mother nature's ever soothing balm, the herbal crea- 
tion, which was intended to affect and cure the dis- 
eases of mankind. 

What right has any set of men, or scientists, to 
give poison to human beings, to destroy the physical 
body and dwarf the brain, and leave the poison in the 
system to be transmitted to unborn innocence, and 
call that curing the sick ? There never was a dose 
of poison administered to the human body, but that 
was worse than the disease itself, your learned doctors 
to the contrary notwithstanding. It is a libel on the 



28 THE KEASON WHY. 

name of truth. No man living can tell you how min- 
eral poisons are going to act on human bodies, as with 
different temperaments and constitutions, they act dif- 
ferently on different persons, under the law of absorp- 
tion. Your lunatic asylums are being filled with 
human beings, made insane by transmitted poisons, 
and by treatment with bromides, hydrate of chloral, 
morphine, etc., and by poisonous applications, made 
to sensitive organs, which never should receive such 
harsh treatment ; for the sympathy with, or between 
the lower organs and the brain and mammal glands, 
not only produce insanity but cancers. Don't you 
know that all diseases come on through the nervous 
system, and cannot be cured by sedatives ? For the 
nervous system is the law of circulation, sensation 
and feeling. 

If men had never doctored female diseases, you 
would not have so many insane women. And if men 
had behaved better, there would not be so much 
insanity amongst them from the prostration of the 
nerve centers. 

There is so much indolence among a certain class 
of physicians, that they do not use their reason or 
experience, but prescribe for their sick and suffering 
patients, some worthless mineral or chemical prepara- 
tion, not knowing whether it is adapted to their 
physical bodies or not. Believe me, they are respon- 
sible for the life they trifle with, and in spirit life will 



THE REASON WHY. 29 

meet those whom they have assisted out of their 
bodies before their time. Verily they shall reap 
what they have sown. 

Awake, intelligent men and women ! Understand 
so well your own bodies, that you cannot be made 
the dupe of any class of physicians, though they 
have passed in, and also out of a medical college, and 
write M.D. after their names. They, too, may die 
with hydrophobia, from taking their own medicine. 
God makes His own doctors and ministers by intui- 
tion, and inspiration ; the one will not fail you, nor 
rob you, nor the other fall to disgrace you; but 
drawing their strength from a higher source, will 
always feel the responsibility that rests upon them, 
thanking God, that He blesses their endeavors to do 
His work upon poor suffering humanity, their wounds 
constantly open, their sighs ever coming up from 
earth, and their wretched wail never ceasing. Anni- 
hilation is better for the man or woman, who at any 
time fill their coffers, by crushing one of those God's 
suffering and sin-sick souls. Beware, children of 
earth, gold will melt, silver will tarnish, but charity 
and love endureth forever 



30 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER III. 

TO THOSE WHO WOULD BE MEDIUMS. 

It has been said that "a word to the wise is 
sufficient." And I would say to persons desiring to 
become mediums, you know not what you seek ; if it 
comes to you, and you cannot escape it, bear patiently 
the cross that is put upon you ; but if you use well 
your reasoning powers, you will never seek to become 
developed as a medium ; for in your anxiety to 
become what you were never intended to be, you 
will find you are helping your own self to do what 
looks so easy when performed by natural mediums. 
Toil as you may, you can never be anything but a 
counterfeit ; and in consequence will believe all others 
to be the same ; to be sure all persons have some 
mediumistic powers, but all have not an organization 
adapted to use — and those powers better lie dormant, 
than to be developed when there is no balance power 
in the brain. 

Look into the faces of some of the mediums who 
have forced their powers to the surface. They are 



THE REASON WHY. 31 

only used to be fed upon by spirit vampires, who see 
and hear and know what is going on in the earth, by 
using the vitality from their physical bodies, regard- 
less whether they live or die. They are spirits of 
low condition, who would not do better on earth, and 
will drag you down to their level. They can degrade 
you, but you can never lift them up ; and when you 
think you have done so, you have brought some will- 
power stronger to bear upon them, and they have 
left, and given place to another. They have a better 
chance than you to advance, if they wish, and it is a 
wrong idea that you can lift them up out of their 
condition, consequent upon evil deeds while in the 
body. For when they come to your physical body, 
they bring with them their misdeeds; and you oft- 
times become familiar with their sins, so they do not 
look so sinful to you ; and you feel that you have 
elevated them — when in fact, you have sunk to their 
level. If you doubt this, -ask any sincere man or 
woman who has investigated this subject, and have 
been in the habit of sitting with different kinds of 
mediums ; they must either say, that some mediums 
are very low, or attach the blame to their influence. 
I have watched from my side, and find oftentimes 
that between the person whom the medium sits for, 
and the spirit who controls them, they are swamped, 
and go down to the perdition of circumstances. So 
I say, beware ! there is danger in a mediumistic life, 



32 THE REASON WHY. 

that is eagerly sought after. No honest medium will 
tell you that they would choose such a life for them- 
selves, had they their choice. Ah, no ! there is 
mental agony, fear of losing one's own individuality, 
and the being influenced at all times, and under 
trying circumstances, and tortured mentally by the 
spirit of strangers, wishing to warn their friends 
through the medium, — wishing you to go to them, 
and do many things that are quite impossible, and so 
depressing the medium, that at times it unfits them 
for any thing. And the more selfish the spirit was 
while in the body, the more they will make a useless 
machine of you. 

See the medium whose health is destroyed, whose 
mind is diseased, whose control will abuse them, by 
twisting them in fearful contortions, and seem to de- 
light in so doing. Do you believe these were sent by 
guardian angels ? No ! you are fearfully deceived. 
Are you not told to try the spirits, and see if they are 
not of God ? If they are, they will not make a 
wreck of you, or say or do that which will disgrace 
you, or pervert your mental powers with low and vile 
influences which they bring, nor take the power of 
speech away from innocent children, cause epilepsy, 
or imitate engines, throw men down upon the side- 
walk, and do all these wicked things, until they de- 
stroy the physical body of the person, only leaving 
them to attack some one else. These are demons, 



THE REASON WHY. 33 

sent from your world by accident, murder, and by 
the law, and carry with them their revengeful feel- 
ings, and think no more of taking your body and 
using it up, than they would think of taking your 
pocket-book, or whatever belonged to you, if they 
were here ; for, as a " tree falleth so it lies." I write 
tins, because it is time you understood it ; and this 
medium has the moral courage to send it out as a 
warning. 

You will have to build mad-houses as plenty as 
school-houses, soon, if you do not learn that all med- 
icines that make dormant the will-power of human 
beings, makes them negative ; (as it is the will that 
protects them from spirits in the body or out of the 
body, and makes you maintain your own individu- 
ality.) Such medicines are opening the door to let 
in those unhappy beings on your plain, who will not 
spare any one which will meet their wants ; and they 
can handle those best, who do not know, or believe 
in spiritualism, because it is called disease. 

What your government should do, is to look into 
this science, and see if there are not some persons 
amongst you, who, having a strong will, a sympa- 
thetic soul, and faith enough in God and His minis- 
tering angels, to cast out these evil spirits. But as 
long as you send out from earth, human beings 
strangled by law, to get rid of them, which you do 
not, but only make them vindictive, you had better 



34 THE REASON WHY. 

have a dozen in prison than one in spirit, going 
around, wreaking vengeance upon the innocent and 
negative. ■ 

Where are those who believe in the immortality 
of the spirit? How dare they uphold hanging for 
crime ? Does not their belief in immortality show to 
them and to the world, that they, too, are committing 
a crime? Hanging, sinners is not the best way to 
make saints ; — taking away the life you cannot give, 
and sending spirits out of the body with all their 
material strength, (not having been wasted by dis- 
ease), which they can use to wreak vengeance upon 
the dwellers of earth. Is it any wonder you have 
so much insanity, so many suicides and murders? 
Beware, lest the transgression of God's laws react 
to your sorrow. 

I reiterate again, be careful about sitting in promis- 
cuous circles. It is not only unhealthy, but danger- 
ous, as you may attract some evil disposed person to 
you, who will throw their disease upon you, and 
enslave you by their influence, as many suffering 
ones on your earth can testify to-day. There are 
those on your earth, who are kept from the lowest 
dens of life by the law of force in your land, so we 
are obliged to leave them to a similar law in the 
spirit world; and you cannot blame your superior 
guides, for if you go into the mud, you must expect 
to get soiled. That is a law you cannot change. 



THE REASON WHY. 35 

There is a science about this that does not seem to 
be understood. For instance, two mediums can have 
slate writings, and other manifestations together, 
when if they separate, neither can have any ; as the 
brain of one balances the powers in the other; and 
oftentimes, after separating, in trying to produce 
singly, what it took two to show, resort to fraud and 
trickery ; and that is the reason why there is so much 
chaff to be sifted out, in order to get at the real 
truth, or genuine manifestations. 

J. S. N. 



36 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER IV. 

To give an unpopular truth to the world, requires 
a large amount of moral courage ; and also backbone 
enough to stand by whatever one may think and 
feel ; — and not always to depend upon the five 
senses, but as many more as can be given through 
the individuality of some of the children of earth. 
There are those who think they know it all ; but it 
has been my experience, as I have moved around in 
my humble way amongst the children of men, that 
there is no one so learned, that they cannot obtain 
some mighty and wholesome truths, from even the 
humblest of God's creatures ; and my life with all its 
seeming mysteries in the past, has begun to be an 
open book to me, wherein I can read the fated stars 
that rule my life. Born of religious parents, who 
ever taught me that principle was a mighty power, 
and whose religious sentiments differed very much, 
they did not agree in opinions or creeds ; they early 
taught their children the necessity of overcoming 
evil with good ; and I bless the day and hour, when 
my father, with his love and belief in universal 



THE REASON WHY. 37 

salvation, taught us, that if we placed our hands on 
the burning coals, no prayer or faith could allay the 
smart ; and impressed upon our minds the necessity 
of living up to the " Golden Rule," which he always 
practiced, — "Love your neighbor as yourself; " that 
neighbor the whole world. Is it any wonder, that 
under such instruction, we should feel that Universa- 
lism was the true religion to bless mankind ? Be 
that as it may ; our mother was an Orthodox in her 
religious views, and we inherit from her, that positive 
principle, and strong element in our natures, that 
when we give a truth, we adhere to it with the 
tenacity of life. She also believed she was right, and 
all through her married life, that was the discordant ele- 
ment which hung as a cloud about our home ; but as 
time wore on, my mother's health gave indication of an 
early death; and under those circumstances, father 
exacted a promise from my mother, that if she passed 
away first, she would return, if possible, and tell him 
which was the true religion, the Congregationalist 
belief, or universal salvation. In time mother recov- 
ered her health, and the question of theology was not 
referred to by either ; as they had agreed to disagree 
on all religious subjects. 

In the spring of the year 1850, my father left 
Boston in the ship Nestor, bound for California ; and 
the next fall, in November, the night before Thanks- 
giving, mother was startled, after retiring to bed, by 



38 THE EEASON WHY. 

raps all about her room ; and also brother Willie, who 
was a young lad, was. awakened, and saw father 
standing beside his bed. He told mother, in a 
frightened way, that father was looking him in the 
face, and how dreadful sick he looked. The next 
day, Thanksgiving, was a sad day, indeed ; for mother 
believed he was dead, and had returned to her, to 
assure her of his death, and also to fulfill the promise 
made years before that he would return if he passed 
away first. 

He not only rapped in different places about the 
room, but a drum, on which he had often played to 
interest his children, was handled and played upon 
in a way and manner so like father, that we all be- 
came convinced that it was he. 

This manifestation changed the whole current of 
my mother's life, and affected her so, spiritually, that 

she sent for the Universalist minister, Rev. E. F , 

of Salem, Mass., he being settled there, and got his 
advice. He proved worthy of her confidence, for in 
less than two years she had changed her bigotry and 
uncharitable belief, for a faith in an Universal God, 
who is amply able to take care of his children, and 
gave her testimony, by being sprinkled, and joined 
the Universalist Church in Salem. 

Near, or about this time, (1851,) I became con- 
scious of some one rapping around me whenever I 
sat sewing or reading. I also found that an unusu- 



thp: reason why. 39 

ally .chilly feeling accompanied these raps. I had 
heard my father, in my young days, tell about meet- 
ing his sister Belle, (spoken of in the first part of 
this work,) many times after she had passed from this 
earth, and she always seemed the same as in life, and 
that he always met her in the early morn, or late at 
night. I have heard him relate how he met her at 
four o'clock, on a bright summer morning, in the barn, 
as he went out to feed his cattle, she having been a 
braider of straw before passing away. She met him 
with a smile, and said, while swinging an unfinished 
hat in her hand, " Jesse, you have a man in your em- 
ploy by the name of Runlet. Do you know any 
thing about his friends? He will die very soon. 
You had better attend to it at once." 

We were then living at Sebasticook, Maine. At 
that time it was no easy task to travel many miles, 
as it was long before railroads in that part of the 
country, and stages were few and far between. My 
father questioned Mr. Runlet on the following day, 
concerning his friends, and found out where they 
lived. In two weeks Mr. Runlet died with typhus 
fever. But for the warning given my father by his 
spirit "sister, he would not have known where to 
notify his friends, or who they were. I write this to 
show that my mediumistic powers come by inher- 
itance, as well as through a peculiar organization ; and 
also to assure the reader, that mediums are not made, 



40 THE REASON WHY. 

but born. That is, that it is a gift, and grows with 
their growth, and cannot be acquired. . That is the 
reason why there are so many counterfeits. But 
remember, there could never be a counterfeit, if there 
was not a genuine to copy from. I am obliged to 
refer often to my father, in this work, as I am not 
writing to please the fancy of my reader, but to 
establish a truth ; and in so doing, I am in hopes to 
encourage my friends and readers — not to hide their 
gifts, under a bushel, but show them to the world, as 
God never gave any truly good gifts, unless intended 
for the benefit of humanity ; and like the " Talents," 
spoken of by Him of old, will be called for in 
due time. 

While I am relating some of my father's expe- 
riences, as told me by himself, I will also place here 
what may have been seen before by some, as I pub- 
lished it in the public press some years ago. 

Some of my father's work, which he was advised to 
do under this same influence, was about forty-five 
years ago. His family were all passing away, member 
after member, with the old-fashioned consumption. 
Every two years there would be a vacant chair, until 
eight members of the family had gone to their long 
home, when Belle, (a sister) appeared to him, and 
told him to take up the one that died first, which was 
a sister, and burn her. It would put a stop to the 
ravages of the disease. 



THE REASON WHY. 41 

After many weeks of mental agony, and talking 
with my mother, and the earnest solicitations of his 
brother, who was then suffering from the dreadful 
disease, he had them taken up, and strange as it may 
seem, the one who died first, and had been dead six- 
teen years, — was found, upon opening the coffin, 
that the clothing and the body had all turned to a 
dark dust, but the lungs and heart were much larger 
than in a healthy human being. And there was evi- 
dence, that a strange and unknown law, had been at 
work, for on putting a lancet into the heart, the blood 
gushed forth as from a fresh wound. 

Oh ! you wise philosophers, why not learn that God 
speaks through His angels, to the children of men, 
and may convey this knowledge through the weak 
ones of earth to confound the wise. Surgeons and 
scientists would do well to become acquainted with 
this law, and not perform surgical operations, except 
in cases of necessity, without consulting the planetary 
law that rules every particle of life, and the life-prin- 
ciple in every thing. Experience and observation 
have taught me that no surgical operation should be 
performed on the increase of the moon. Cancers will 
grow, tonsils will come again, limbs will not heal, and 
there will be a return of the disease, if you trifle with 
it on the increase of the moon. 

As man cannot govern the tides and the moon does, 
bow in reverence, all ye sages and saints, who hold 



42 THE REASON WHY. 

scalpel and knife, and you will save many that now 
pass over in defiance of law. Man should never be 
forgetful" of the law that controls him, or the God 
that rules him. It is that same law, that my father 
tried to understand, and obeyed in the burning of the 
bodies of those that had already passed away, that 
left our family free from consumption, from that time 
to the present, forty-five years. 

As I am relating these peculiar incidents, I will 
here speak of something which happened to myself, 
when about seven years old ; I was playing with my 
sister, and we wanted to fix a box by cutting off the 
cover. I ran and got a new hatchet that father had 
hidden from my brother, for fear he would get it and 
cut himself, not thinking we girls might use it. My 
sister took the hatchet and went to cut the cover, I 
holding it ; she not only cut the box cover but took 
two of my fingers off also. I mention this to show 
that there is even in a child of seven years, intuitions 
that should be remembered. After the hand had 
been dressed by my father and mother, and the 
fingers placed in a box, they were buried. I can well 
remember, that they felt as if some one was squeezing 
my hand and fingers, and when the pain became 
unbearable, I begged my mother to give me my 
fingers, saying some one was hurting them. And 
after some coaxing, my father went and got them, 
and brought them to me ; when lo, and behold, they 



THE REASON WHY. 43 

were wrapped in a piece of flannel — which was 
rolled tightly around them. After separating them, 
and placing them in two different pieces, and laying 
something between them, they were put in a box and 
buried. The pain ceased, and I well remember the 
wonder it caused in my family ; but I believe the same 
guides that assist me now, watched over me then. 

Since that time, in my profession as a physician, I 
have seen men who have had their limbs amputated, 
who, on the full of the moon, would suffer extremely 
with pain, in the limb that had been removed years 
before ; and I believe it is connected with the spiritual 
part of the human being, teaching us that there is a 
spiritual body, so in sympathy with the physical, that 
only death can break the tie. I was at one time 
obliged to visit a patient every month, and give him 
medicine to act upon the nerves of the brain and 
place a plaster on the spinal column, to relieve the 
distress in a limb which had been amputated seven 
years before. 

Nothing a mystery is, but ignorance of the law. 
So we, like doubting Thomas, believed not, until he 
saw the very hands pierced by the nails, the wound 
thrust in the side, did he believe that Christ had risen, 
or He had " even " died. 

Some ten years ago, while crossing the East Boston 
Ferry, a lady on the boat spoke to me, and asked me 
if I was Mrs. C , the lady physician. I said, yes. 



44 THE REASON WHY. 

She said: "I am a stranger, but was told by my 
spirit mother to come and see you. I ' knew you as 
soon as I saw you. My mother has been with me 
three weeks, and advises me to return to my grand- 
mother in New York state, that I may have proper 
care, in my last sickness ; as I have been very much 
neglected by my husband. My spirit mother tells me 
to tell you concerning my sad life, as I do not expect 
to live long." I gave her my sympathy ; she returned 
to her early home. I corresponded with her some 
months, when she passed away. The day she died, 
she received a letter from me, had the nurse read it to 
her and dictated an answer. The next morning, at 
four o'clock, I heard my name called ; arose, and 
went into the entry. A cold draft of air came upon 
me, and a voice said, " I died yesterday at five o'clock, 
P. M. I send your letters and some other things in 
a package." In a few days I received a letter from 
the nurse, stating the hour of her death ; also received 
the package in four weeks, containing my letters. 
The daughter of this lady is living, and can verify 
what I write. 

Coming from Salem one day in the steam cars, we 
were very much crowded for room. A strange lady 
sat in the seat with me, and a gentleman and lady in 
front of us. I was reading a paper, when some one 
put their arms about my neck. It seemed so real, I 
mentally asked, "Who is this?" The person said, 



THE REASON WHY. 45 

k * I am that gentleman's mother who sits in front of 
you." I said, " I cannot speak to him. You must 
call his attention to me, by touching him on the left 
side of his head." Soon he put up his hand and 
rubbed the left side of his head. I then said touch 
him on the right side. He put his hand up same as 
before, on the other side. I then told her to touch 
him on the sensorium. He lifted his hat, rubbed his 
head, and looked round at me. I paid particular 
attention to my paper, although I wanted to laugh. 
I asked what she wished to say to him. " Tell him 
not to sign tjiat contract, to-day," she replied. When 
we arrived in Boston, I walked out of the Maine 
depot, and before I reached Hanover Street, the gentle- 
man came up to me, lifting his hat, said, "will you 
please to excuse me, madam. Did you touch me in 
the car?" I said, u no, but I know who did. A lady 
who said she died three years ago, and is your mother. 
And says, " Edward, don't sign that contract, to-day." 
He was astonished, and I left him standing on the 
street pale and breathless. I moved on. I do not 
know who he was. 



46 THE EEASON WHY. 



CHAPTER V. 

From my seventh year, I became conscious of some- 
thing seeming to have a care over me, some undefined 
presence, which I could feel, and yet could not 
express myself about it. At school it seemed easy to 
learn my lessons ; if I wished to be at the head of my 
class, there seemed always something making me feel 
that if I tried, I would succeed. And in every way, 
even my most simple wish, seemed at times to be 
granted in my inner life. No disappointments seemed 
to wreck me, or affect me, because of that something, 
with its soothing influence, which always acted as a 
comforter. As time wore on, at about my sixteenth 
year, I began to feel as if my brain was so active, 
that it was almost impossible for me to contain my- 
self, — so many queer sayings would come into my 
mind ; and many times I have risen from my bed, 
when all were sleeping, to write prose and poetry, to 
relieve my aching head. Page after page would I 
write, and then commit to the flames next morning, 
saying I was nervous. Oh ! how many aches and 
pains and mental agonies, are excused, or passed by, 



THE* REASON WHY. 47 

or accounted for, by that one incomprehensible word, 
nervousness. Would that it might be left out of the 
English language, and we put in some word more 
expressive of sympathy; for how many hearts are 
broken, how many brains gone mad, while nervous- 
ness, the only known expression serves to cover the 
ignorance of the law of inspiration or aspiration, and 
call it disease, that acts upon the bump of ideality. 

Great heavens ! do we not need the gateway of 
spirituality opened, to send down upon us poor 
mortals more sympathy and harmony? Is it not 
time that the Christ-principle was taught, and not 
only taught, but practiced, in this the nineteenth 
century? And that fathers and mothers should 
better understand the children they have been the 
means of bringing into the world, — and brothers and 
sisters try to see each other's inner life. 

Look for the divinity that is within, instead of the 
faults from without. Instead of as to-day, part of a 
family living in extravagance and luxury, and other 
members of the same family, doing equally as much 
good in life, are struggling for a mere pittance, barely 
enough to keep soul and body together. Does any 
one believe God ordered all this ? Ah ! no, but the 
ruling of the planets, may be the cause of the inno- 
cent suffering for the guilty, and that may have some- 
thing to do with the destines of the human race. 

If so, where is the blame, for there is one great 



48 THE REASON WHY. 

truth we all can understand, that we are placed here 
simply to grow, physically, morally, mentally, intel- 
lectually, and spiritually; and they who having the 
stronger spirituality, will in no wise be uncharitable 
to any of God's children, but what they do not under- 
stand, will leave for a time, when we shall all know 
what life and its sufferings mean. 

It seems that the masses do not understand, that 
what we should most desire is growth, to fit ourselves 
to enjoy life, here and hereafter. It is not necessary 
to tell God what we need. He knows that already. 
But to return thanks is just, and gives us a renewal 
of spiritual inspirations, and makes us remember our 
weaknesses as human beings. 



THE REASON WHY. 49 



CHAPTER VI. 

At nineteen years of age, I came to Boston to begin 
life, with new hopes and lofty ideas, as many a young 
girl leaves her home and friends, with a partner she 
has chosen from all others, to walk the pathway of 
life with. Ignorant and innocent, having been sur- 
rounded by religious influence at home, is it strange, 
that even to-day, while I write, a shudder passes over 
me, as I think of all the sorrows and disappointments 
that met me in my new home. All the pleasant 
imaginations of love and home, with its harmonies, 
took flight, and I found myself wrecked on the shoals 
of disappointment, where every young girl will find 
herself, if she does not wed principle and purity, for 
nature is always true to herself; and innocence can no 
more join hands with vice, than water can mix with 
oil. No matter how much deception is used, or how 
well selfishness may succeed, for a while, nature will 
rebel in due time ; and though it may be many long 
weary years, that a patient husband or wife bear the 
cross, burdened at every step, yet there will come a 
time, when justice and truth will have their sway, and 



50 THE SEASON WHY. 

the selfish and deceitful will have it meted out to 
them, as they have measured it to others. 

Then; and not until then, when disappointment had 
nearly wrecked my life, and I had been pronounced a 
consumptive by the wise but mistaken physicians, I 
felt how near, and yet how far, were those unseen 
ones, who cheered me in my loneliness, and held me 
up when I would have fallen, guided and directed me 
by their intuitive instruction, yet I had not received 
any open demonstration from them ; still, in my soul, 
when sorrow reached my spirit, I would feel their 
warm breath on my face, and their loving sympathy 
in my soul, and hear the whispered words, be brave. 
Oh ! how in my disappointed life, when I felt it was 
more than I could bear, have I thrown my arms out 
into space, trying to catch, or feel a touch of those, 
who though unseen, lived and loved me still. The 
religious element in my nature, would rise up in my 
daily life, and on bending knees, would I plead to 
God to spare my unborn child the consequent effects 
of an inharmonious marriage, though entered into in 
ignorance and 'girlish innocence. And I believe my 
prayers were taken up by the angelic hosts, and 
carried to my Master, who answered my prayers, 
willingly; and the daughter, who blesses my life 
to-day with her heavenly gifts, is an assurance of 
God's love and tenderness to his children. Oh ! 
woman, you who read this little book, may it bring to 



THE REASON WHY. 51 

your soul a balm, to know that there is one woman 
amidst the millions who dared to suffer and be strong, 
and wait God's own time, to be emancipated from 
deceptive surroundings. Let it give you strength to 
bear the ills of life, but work in some good cause, and 
help those weaker than yourself. It is the only balm 
for a disappointed life, to fulfill one's duties, and help 
others that we may be happy ourselves. And, 
mothers, looking back thirty years, it seems but 
yesterday, when placed in my arms was my first 
child ; no one but a mother, whose love is centered 
on her child, by disappointment, can realize my joy 
at beholding the tiny form of my darling child, with 
its innocent face, teaching me that there was some- 
thing in life worth living for. To watch and care for 
my helpless little one, revived in my inner being, the 
true elements of the true woman, — love for inno- 
cence and helplessness. We may have everything in 
life that money can bring, but the loving word mother, 
may well repay us for many of life's disappointments, 
and also bring out of a lonely heart, feelings of 
responsibility and care, that makes up the true and 
noble woman. I was not conscious of any person 
around me, until some time afterwards, when my 
second child was thirteen months old, when I was 
aroused, while quietly sleeping, one night, to hear the 
words, " make lots of night dresses, for baby's going 
to be long sick, and you will need them ; then he 
comes to summer land." 



52 THE REASON WHY. 

Somewhat dejected in spirit, feeling that something 
was going to happen, I went busily to work and made 
the night Presses, as was commanded me to do. This 
was the first of July, he was taken sick soon after, 
and passed away October eighth. The day before he 
was taken sick, my little daughter was learning her 
Catechism for Sunday School, and laying her head in 
my lap, while Georgie was sitting up in his cradle, 
she said, " Mother, where is God ? I don't see Him." 
Georgie looked up, and with a sweet smile said, 
raising his little hands, "God is up there." I was 
startled, as he had never spoken a word, but pa and 
mamma ; and in my surprise, said, " Georgie, did you 
speak ? " when he reiterated the same sentence to me 
again, with so much solemnity, that it fairly chilled 
me, and when my husband returned at night, he 
found me very much depressed in mind, and as is 
usual in such cases, called it nervousness, and told me 
to go out for a walk, as being with the children so 
much, affected me. I went, and when I returned, 
found my darling sick ; and after nine week's sickness 
he passed to the summer land. I sincerly believe 
that children grow up spiritually beside their earthly 
mother, learning earth's laws, in connection with 
spirit ; and my reason for this is, that for many years, 
at times I was conscious of the name of mother 
being whispered in my ear. At times I was very 
lonely and sad, and sometimes would weep, missing 



THE REASON WHY. 



53 



him, and also another I had lost since he passed 
away. — when I beheld him, standing before me one 
evening, and he seemed like a child four or five years 
old. He said, " don't cry, mamma, for me ; we are 
always near you. See," and he held up his little 
dress, when lo ! and behold, it was wet and clung 
about him ; and he said, " mamma, your tears make 
my dress wet. I can't sleep good, if you cry." I was 
astonished, and said, "is it possible, darling, that 
mother's troubles affect you so ? " and he passed from 
my sight. But I learned a lesson from that, to do 
my duty by every one while they live, and when they 
have passed on, leave them in the hands of a Higher 
power. But I feel that the law of attraction between 
the spirit of mother and child, must be as strong, 
spiritually, as physically, — laws which have been 
proven to hold good in the transmission of disease 
from both parents to their children. 

Three years after Georgie's death, we buried another 
little boy, with disease of the brain ; and as I looked 
on his waxen features, I began to ask myself the 
question, why this disease of the brain should affect 
my children, both in the same way, and at about the 
same age ; and if there was not some law which I had 
transgressed unknowingly. As I was of a studious 
turn of mind, and believed in physiology and phrenol- 
ogy, I at once set about trying to solve the problem 
concerning the death of those loved ones. And I feel 



54 THE EEASON WHY. 

to-day, that 1 can safely attribute it to a weak 
physical body, and a too strong mental action of the 
mother; and that while my children were blessed 
with strong spirituality and mental power, there was 
not physical strength, inherited from their mother, to 
sustain them in physical life, and then we are taught 
that God takes our children away. Be that true or 
false, I learned a lesson in the death of my little ones, 
that satisfied me that they partoook of the weak 
physical nature of the mother; for the two children 
who resemble their father, are living; while those 
resembling their mother have been denied their just 
rights of living their allotted time on the earth, by the 
injustice and disappointment meted out to their 
mother. 

I give this here, that mothers may help me solve 
this momentous question, why so many children pass 
away in infancy, and are denied their just rights of a 
life on the physical plain. I can safely say it is due 
to prenatal conditions, and inharmonious surround- 
ings, and ignorant physicians, which cheat these little 
innocents out of a true life, and oblige them, in spirit, 
to walk side by side with their mother, and through 
her life, to be made acquainted with physical law. 
If not so, no individuality could come to them ; and 
so, mothers, when you think it is better for your 
darling to pass away in infancy, first think what 
they were placed here for, and you will not be 



THE REASON WHY. 55 

hypocrite enough to believe that it is as well for 
them. 

But, mothers, look beyond the tomb, 
And see thy little ones, 
Protected by the Friend, who says, 
Oh! suffer such to come. 



56 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER VII. 

" STAR-MAY." 

As years wore on, I still seemed to be watched by 
unseen beings, and whispering voices seemed to 
attend me, when, v being suddenly awakened from 
my sleep one night, I was told to get up ; and I 
beheld a dark face bending over me, with long black 
hair falling about the shoulders, and a piece of red 
cloth folded about the person. I arose, when a voice 
said, " remove the woolen carpet from the floor. Pack 
away your feather beds, and all unnecessary clothing ; 
get an open stove and a tin tea-kettle, for you will 
need them. Brave is going to have the small pox. 
Boil tar in the water to purify the air, and say noth- 
ing." I was astounded, and who would not have 
been ? for in 1855 we were not used to the small pox, 
as we are at the present, and it seemed a very loath- 
some disease. It was Wednesday night. The face 
glided by me with a sweet smile, as if it only meant 
me kindness. The next morning I did as directed, 
replaced the woolen carpet with a straw matting, pro- 



THE ItEASON WHY. 57 

cured a stove and kettle, and the tar ; and when my 
husband returned at night, he complained of a bad 
head-ache, and insisted upon having a sweat, which 
was given him. At twelve o'clock that night, my 
name was called again, when I beheld the same face 
saying, "get up, your husband will be broken out 
with small pox before morning. " I arose, and lifting 
the wet cloth I had placed on his forehead, found 
him all broken out. Sending for a physician in the 
morning, he pronounced it small pox at once. My 
husband, for three weeks, was very sick, when my lit- 
tle daughter was taken with the same dread disease, 
and lay very sick. 

The day it turned with him he was suffering very 
much ; and I, worn out with care and watching, being 
forsaken by every one, they were so frightened of it, 
and the physician only stepped into the door, never 
into his room, and I had not seen the face of any one 
since they were taken sick, — only the doctor for a 
moment. Disheartened and discouraged, I felt a 
fearful head-ache coming on me, and the chill they 
both complained of when taken, and knowing we all 
must suffer if I should be taken down with it, and 
knowing how unfeeling my neighbors had shown 
themselves in their fright, (for they even complained 
because I opened my windows at night to air the 
house,) I expected no help from that source ; and we 
all know how little avail human sympathy, when they 



58 THE REASON WHY. 

think there is danger to themselves. My husband ir? 
sisted upon having something to make him sleep ; he 
did not care what it done to him, his sufferings were 
so great. 

As I passed down the stairs to get something for 
him, the little brown face smilingly said, "be quick, 
squaw, empty the laudinum into a cup, fill the bottle 
with black tea. Give Brave some ; he will sleep." I 
hurried to do so, feeling God had sent some one to 
me in my helplessness and loneliness ; and feeling so 
sick myself, that after I had administered the tea, I 
came down stairs, fell on my knees, and with my soul 
full of thankfulness, uttered these words : — " God, 
help me!" A hand was laid upon my head, and I 
heard the words : — " Fear not, my child" I arose 
from my knees, so happy, that a sweet melod}^ filled 
my soul, and I burst forth, and sang as in my happiest 
days, when my father played the bass viol, and taught 
his children to rise and fall the notes. 

Oh! you faithless ones, that do not believe in 
answer to prayer. When you feel your own weak- 
ness, and have no confidence in human aid, and your 
spirit needs to be strengthened, believe me, there is 
a fountain which will never fail us, and when you 
once drink from that fountain, you can never thirst. 
For that fountain is Inspiration, and Intuition, and 
spirits of loved ones, are always watching and wait- 
ing, to carry our wants and wishes up higher, and 



THE .REASON WHY. 59 

bring the balm of Gilead. to our weary and waiting 

souls. 

Strange as it may seem, the tea given to my husband 

for lauclinum, had the desired effect to promote sleep, 

and feeling that he was laboring under a narcotic, so 

affected him, that he slept all night, and the next 

morning was decidedly better, and in due time both 

recovered their usual health. 



60 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

From 1850 to 1860, my health seemed to fail 
slowly but surely ; and at last I became so reduced, 
that after consulting many physicians, it was decided 
that I was in consumption ; and there are now living, 
(1881) physicians who decided that my left lung was 
entirely gone. I weighed only eighty pounds, and for 
three years had not been able to lie on either side. 

Life seemed almost a burden, — I constantly trying 
to be busy, to keep my mind from destroying me, 
with constant thinking, knowing I could not live 
long with my left lung gone, and the right one in a 
diseased condition. I continued to decline, and after 
a time began spitting blood. My attendant physician 
said I must soon pass away. 

I, feeling no doubt like many young persons under 
such circumstances, as if I was being dealt unjustly 
with, became rebellious in my feelings, asking myself 
why was I placed in such circumstances. It was 
nothing I had done myself,, and if it was because of 
my innocence and ignorance, why had not God 



THE REASON WHY. Gl 

taught the children of earth, the why and wherefore 
of life? 

I had not the least fear of death, but I wanted to 
know why God did not give us the information we 
sought, and make us realize what was expected of us. 
I was not hypocrite enough to say I was thankful to 
be brought into life, without any volition of my own, 
have my early hopes blasted by circumstances, and 
then bow like a whipped cur, and say I believe it 
right ! 

Not so. If God, is a God of love and wisdom, He 
will accept no such hypocritical worship. And if *He 
desired to be worshipped in spirit and in truth, He 
could not receive worship from a child, who could say 
with the lips that it was right, and rebel in their 
innermost soul. I have yet to see the man or woman, 
(and I have stood beside many death-beds), that have 
not lived their allotted time, and are aged, but ask 
the same question, — why are we put here to suffer so 
much, and told so little. Only, that it is God's will, 
and we must submit without a murmur. The very 
men and women that preach such doctrine, should be 
obliged to bring proof, and prove it in public, or be 
placed with false teachers. 

What right has any one, man or woman, to put 
forth to the world, theological views, as facts, which 
cannot be proven only through a record three thou- 
sand three hundred years old, lost for four hundred 



62 THE REASON" WHY. 

years, brought to light by the Mohammedans, ac- 
knowledged by Christians, to be written by men 
inspired of God, to do the work, just as some are 
(inspired) to-day, which that same class of theolo- 
gians reject as being inspired by demons, — and that 
record only one side of the question, giving only the 
history of the Jews? We of the class called Gentiles, 
afterwards Christians, could come and tell you con- 
cerning the Holy Nazerene, — as told us by the 
Magi of Persia, or the Egyptian priest, whom Jesus 
learned his lessons of wisdom with; and know- 
ing that He was sent to set an example for the 
nations to follow, revered Him as the Messiah, whom 
God had sent not to bear all the terrible wrong doing 
'of a wicked people, but to teach them to love one 
another, and not allow selfishness and avariciousness 
to destroy the God-like principle, love, that is inherent 
in them. Not that we are saved by His death, but by 
His life and example, — and I believe, had I loved 
God less, and feared Him more, I should not be here 
writing these words to-day. But I believed Him to 
be a God of love and wisdom, and felt in my weak- 
ness that He who placed me here, would answer me, 
if I asked Him, in spirit and in truth. And I asked 
in sincerity, that if I must pass away so young, (only 
twenty-nine years old), I might have given me the 
reason. Yes, even more, I demanded it, as my right 
as a child of God, who had no fear of a loving Father, 



THE REASON WHY. 03 

only love for Him. We are taught He is more loving 
than an earthly parent. Prove it, ye faithless ones, 
and not talk what you do not believe. 

God heard my request, and through His ministering 
angels answered my prayer of demand ; and I would 
not exchange the knowledge for all the gold on our 
earthly plain, for that will pass away, but that know- 
ledge will be the key which unlocks all the mysteries 
of human life. 

I retired as usual one night, when I felt a chilly 
feeling pervade the atmosphere of my room, and look- 
ing up, beheld what appeared to be a smoking sub- 
stance, arising from the floor to the ceiling. I 
watched it, and as a numbness crept over me, I said, 
" why, perhaps this is a feeling of death." But as I 
watched, the face of my father came out of it, and 
he said, " you have made a demand upon spirit life, 
my child, and God has sent me to answer it ; but you 
are aware, that if we restore you to health, you must 
give us something in return." I said, " I have 
nothing to give, father." He said, "I am not all 
who have suffered in answer to your demand. The 
world you live in, is a world of demand, and the spirit 
world, is a world of supply to your souls; but t there 
must be an exchange of life, if we answer your 
petition." He said, "there are fifty or more who 
compose a band ; what will you give them to live, and 
work out a life of usefulness ? " I answered, " I have 



64 THE REASON WHY. 

nothing." He said, "will you dedicate yourself to 
the human race, and be guided as a physician and 
worker in every good cause, whatsoever jovl are told 
to do for the good of the children of earth ? " I said, 
u Iwili" — but said he, "that will not do. Repeat 
after me these words : ' I, Julia A. Norcross, dedicate 
myself to any good work, which shall be given me to 
do, by my angel guides, while life lasts. I will not 
fail in that work, so help me God, and. my Angelic 
Band;" 

Then he said, " I shall never come again this way, 
but you will always be told what to do, and how. 
You will also be protected by your guides. Go fear- 
lessly along, turn not to the right, or to the left. 
Whatever obstruction comes in the way, to interfere 
in any good work, will be removed. Be charitable, 
kind and loving to all, and forget not your promise, 
and you shall be blessed ; you will suffer much, but 
that will be nothing. The world will not understand 
a truth, unless there are martyrs to every good cause. 
Cross your hands upon your chest, and also cross 
your feet at ten o'clock every forenoon, and four 
every afternoon. You will then feel the Hand heal- 
ing you, and teaching you to care for yourself. You 
will see written that which will cure you, and when 
you have cured yourself, you will extend the hand of 
healing to others, and by doing so you will strengthen 
yourself. You will always feel the Hidden Hand on 



THE REASON WHY. 05 

your shoulder, and will know we are some of us near. 
Talk to us as if you saw us ; we will advise you, as 
you will never be where we cannot come to you." 
And amidst all the ups and downs of life, I have 
been guided and guarded, by that Hidden Hand, — 
and eluded, if need be. It always accompanies me, 
wherever I go ; and at times, when visiting my 
patients late at night, when it would come into my 
mind how late it was, and I out alone, I would feel 
the Hand upon my shoulder, as much as to say, never 
alone. And while life lasts, and I remain a sojourner 
on earth plain, I shall be, as I always have been, true 
to the band that guides me, feeling assured that God 
knew it was best, for the thorns to wound my feet, 
and disappointment blast my young life ; that out of 
the ashes of the past, might be resurrected a hand to 
heal, a psychological power to assist, and a sympa- 
thetic feeling to encourage the sick and suffering. 
And if humble me, has been chosen, I can do no more 
than submit to a power Higher than myself, and wait 
the coming of the glorious morn of spirit life. To 
understand why it has been so with me, and why we 
who are chosen should suffer scoff and scorn, and by 
those who are linked to us by the tenderest ties that 
can possibly unite human beings, and even the sacred- 
ness of consanguinious relationship, is not exempt 
from acting its part in withholding from us sympathy 
and encouragement, — but when angel hosts attend 



66 THE REASON WHY. 

our footsteps, and faith inspires our soui, we can 
bide our time, and wait the coming light, for life is 
short, and eternity is long ; and perhaps we shall all 
understand one another better. If my cross has been 
hard to bear, I know many times I have made it 
lighter, by helping others to bear their sufferings and 
cares ; and then when I have sighed, in the hours of 
trouble, and felt that only a thin veil had been drawn 
between me, and those I loved, in spirit, and I was 
tired and weary of the turmoil of life, I would beg 
of them to open the gateway and give me a glimpse 
of the higher life. I have been answered, "be brave; 
all things are for the best." 

Why murmur, when you cannot change 

Conditions, over which you have no control ; 
Arise, let circumstances flee, 

But do not bind thy eternal soul ; 
For if the life that makes you mourn, 

Or sadness follows in the way, 
Look thou to higher realms above, — 

You'll see the clouds all roll away. 

So, weary sister, live and hope, 

That by-and-by, duties, well done, 
Will come and bring their recompense, 

And you'll be blessed for every one. 
Bear now the cross, the end is near ; 

Thy trials cannot weigh thee down ; 
For we have watched thee in the past, 

And thou shalt wear life's peaceful crown. 



THE REASON WHY. 67 

Keep up thy spirits, let nothing crush 

Thy mental powers, nor make them change, 
For all but life, must go to dust, 

And by God's laws must be arranged; 
Seek those that give thee mental strength, 

So that thy lamp may brightly burn ; 
And if thou needst love's eloquence, 

God gives to them, that rightly earn. 

Do that which makes thee safe and strong, 

And gird thyself with fearless might ; 
And love no one, if they would wean 

Thy loving soul from what is right. 
If they who come and ask thy love, 

And cannot pay the precious dower, 
You might as well be left alone, 

As give thyself into their power. 

If thou art tired, weary and weak, 

Not to such fountains shouldst thou drink ; 

For when thy strength exhausted be, 

Their weight would only make thee sink. 






\ 

68 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER IX. 

My health improved rapidly, and I found myself a 
new being, physically ; and as I improved in health, 
my mental seemed to be acted upon in a very singular 
manner, and I gave attention to it. There would be 
a strange feeling come on the right side of my brain, 
which I learned was the positive side; and infor- 
mation would be conveyed to me, on the left, which 
is the negative side ; and whatever they wished me to 
do, has been given me in that way. And when I feel 
the Hidden Hand upon the right side, 1 know it is to 
give me instruction. And when I feel a touch on the 
left shoulder, it is some one wanting information. 
When on the sensorium, it incites the spiritual and 
intellectual. But I have no desire to impress upon 
my readers that this is an easy way to get an educa- 
tion. Let me assure you, that no great blessing ever 
comes to earth's children without sorrow and suffer- 
ing attending every step. No proclamation of eman- 
cipation ever came to the children of men, only 
through sorrow and bloodshed, and hours of agony 
and despair. 



THE REASON WHY. 69 

The Hidden Hand was my solace and comforter, 
and my spirit was made glad by the restoration of my 
physical body to health, giving me more physical 
force and stamina, to withstand the opposition and 
ridicule which the ignorant and malicious will al- 
ways bring forth against any thing which they do not 
understand, and are too indolent and worldly to wish 
too. ■ Bear in mind that they, too, shall have their re- 
ward ; for whatsoever they have " meted to others, 
shall be meted to them again." 

This year, 1861, there came to my home another 
son, and for two years my time was taken up with 
my domestic affairs ; but still my guides watched 
me carefully and were constantly about me, and often 
surprised me by some peculiar act to assure me of 
their power and protection, — one instance of which 
I will here relate. I asked my husband, one Satur- 
day evening, to bring me a half-dozen glass goblets ; 
and to annoy me, and also to ridicule my temperance 
principles, he brought me in six common bar-tumb- 
lers. I was vexed, but said nothing. On setting my 
table Sunday evening for Monday morning breakfast, 
I placed three of those tumblers on each end of the 
table, and went into my sitting room. Presently I 
heard a noise, as if some one striking on glass with a 
piece of metal ; I went into the dining-room, and found 
one of the tumblers cut off about an inch from the 
bottom, and a knife laying beside it. Suffice it to 



70 THE REASON WHY. 

say, that before Monday night, all the half-dozen were 
destroyed in the same manner. 

An Indian girl (spirit,) calling herself " Star-May," 
said " she had done it to let Brave know that she 
knew what was right and what was wrong." 

At this time the spirits gave Mr. C. a prophetic 
warning : saying if he was not kind to his wife and 
children, there would be a time when she would stand 
upon a public rostrum, and he in the audience, when 
the Atlantic ocean might as well roll between. And 
to-day, after all these years have past, I can see how 
well it has all been fulfilled; and if coming events 
cast their shadows before, does it not imply that our 
acts have to do with our destiny ? 



THE REASON WHY. 71 



CHAPTER X. 

In 1863 my mediumistic work began in earnest. In 

January I was at Mr. D. S 's, and while sitting 

around a table with some friends, was conscious of 
being controlled or influenced in a mysterious way ; 
was told I had offered an invocation, which proof I 
had by finding my face and eyes much swollen the 
following morning, winch disappeared towards eve- 
ning, and the next evening another invocation, with 
the same results. This lasted about twelve days, with 
no conversation through me upon any subject. 

Then came what purported to be the spirit of Dr. 
Kittridge, and made himself known through me, tell- 
ing me what I must do, was to examine diseases, and 
use the hand of healing. For six months I examined 
all diseases free of charge ; and in that year examined 
over six hundred persons, and wrote prescriptions, 
and gave such advice as their cases called for ; after 
which my spirit guides suggested that I put up my 
own medicine, as my magnetism would impregnate it, 
and it would have better effect upon the system. 
About this time I was called to Mr. G. L d, who 



72 THE REASON WHY. 

had been sick a number of years, with what was 
called by the physicians, neuralgia of the stomach. 
He had even been to California, to try the effects of 
climate, yet to no purpose. When I was called, he 
was suffering from an acute attack, was attended by 
two physicians, who had blistered and salivated him, 
all to no purpose ; then tried rolling him on a mat- 
tress. His wife, (Mrs. S. A. L d), having heard 

of the power recently bestowed on me, determined to 
try this wonderful gift of healing. Although a 
stranger and a skeptic, she sent for me about eight 
o'clock, P. M. As soon as I entered the room, I be- 
came influenced at once, and bade him arise from the 
mattress and go to bed. His wife said it was impos- 
sible, he could not move ; when I reached out my 
hand, and raised him at once, and led him to his room, 
his wife putting him in bed. Seating myself at the 
bed-side, I took his hand in mine, placing the other 
on his forehead, remained under influence till Hve 
o'clock the next morning, he sleeping, and waking 
entirely free from, pain ; my guides deciding that it 
was gall stones passing through the gall duct,- and 
inflammation of the liver. It caused me more trouble 
to cure the effects of the calomel which the other 
physicians had given him, than to cure the effects of 
the disease ; although having been subject to like at- 
tacks for fifteen years, he never had a return of it af- 
terwards. 



THE REASON WHY. To 

After several years of health and happiness, Mr. 

L d met with an accident on the Metropolitan 

Railroad, which disabled him for life, and finally 
caused his death. In a suit for damages against the 
railroad, I was called as a witness in his behalf, be- 
fore a bench of judges, opposed by three of our most 
eminent and able lawyers, one of whom has since 
filled the governor's chair in this State: and could 
they behold their littleness in comparison with those 
whose hand turned the scale in favor of the poor and 
unfortunate man who laid helpless for two years on 
a bed of suffering, and a rich corporation, trying to 
shirk the responsibility, and fighting against justice 
and mere}', for a few paltry dollars, which will hang 
like a mill-stone about their necks, after they have 
left this earth to render an account, and have their 
case decided according to the laws of the spirit world, 
where justice, mercy and truth abound. 

Not one question was asked me while on the stand, 
in favor of that poor man, but an answer was whis- 
pered to me, in my ear, from outside of myself, by 
the angel hosts, showing me how interested the spirit 
influences were, concerning the troubles and afflic- 
tions of earth's children, and also teaching me that 
it is not the influential, but the upright, that God 
sends His messengers to attend; and if those men 
were aware that their thoughts and purposes were 
pre-arranged by an unseen power, th'ey would not have 



74 THE REASON WHY. 

tried so hard to rob a poor injured man, by twisting 
the law, for oftentimes there is more law than justice. 
But I beheld the working of that unseen power, and 
it was only through the influence that was thrown 
over the judges, by a power not recognized by them- 
selves, that they did at last give justice. 

I saw a spirit recording the thoughts, as they came 
from each man's brain, and giving him due credit for 
only that which came from his own inner life ; and 
then using the manipulations of a magnetic power to 
change his mind. But of that he gained no reward. 
Oh! how little in comparison with those workers, 
was the talk and mean insinuations thrown out by 
those lawyers, to prove the witnesses' statements 
false. Judges and lawyers should remember, that 
there is a higher law than that made by man ; and as 
they are only men, they should, if they accept such 
responsible situations from the people, conduct them- 
selves in such a manner, that the unseen police, who 
never receives bribes, nor sleep at their post, may 
send in their report to head-quarters in their favor ; — 
for believe me, every act of yours is seed sown, and 
in due time you will reap the harvest, nolens volens. 

A little circumstance connected with this case, may 
be interesting to our readers, as all I shall write in 
this book is true, and can be vouched for, by those in 
my own vicinity. 

Mr. L having been sick a long time, many 



THE REASON WHY. 75 

called upon him, because his case was a sad one ; one 
of whom was lawyer B . He said his sympathy- 
was so great, that it gave him pain to see him suffer 

so, and asked Mr. L what he could do for him. 

In repl}' he said, I have many bills out, (Mr. L 

having been in the grocery business previous to his 
injury), and am in need of money; asked him if he 

would collect some of them. Lawyer B said he 

would, on a very small commission. Mr. L gave 

him some bills for collection, of which he collected 
fourteen dollars, and kept the money. And after Mr. 

L died, sued the widow for four hundred dollars, 

as fees, for services in assisting her husband in his 
business. 

Is it any wonder that people who see a church with 
such a wolf within its folds, should say that ill-gotten 
money is paid in to retain a place, and that church 
must get some of the dirt that such a man carries 
into it. Brothers and sisters, overcome evil with 
good, is God's law, and not to let evil overcome good, 
and make everything evil. Too many of God's 
children are judged by what they wear, and churches 
are not exempt from its fearful influence in this 
direction. 



76 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Continuing my practice, and attending to my fam- 
ily, gave me very little time for social intercourse 
with any society, and I saw, as all physicians do, so 
much of suffering, both physical and mental ; for it is 
not only the body that a true physician is obliged to 
prescribe for, but many of the ills that belong to the 
. mental ; and sometimes all the troubles of a family 
are deposited with the family physician ; and if he or 
she is false to their trust, they are no physician, in the 
true sense of the word. 

At this time I was called to a Mr. N., who had not 
seen a well day for ten years. His last physician had 
tried all kinds of experiments upon him, and then told 
him he would never be any better. He had a very 
singular dream. In it he saw a lady that held a bot- 
tle towards him, and on it these words : — ■ " Behold 1 
come to bring relief! " He being a man of strong 
will-power, and not to be laughed out of what to him 
seemed so real in his dream, he sent for many lady 
physicians, but to no purpose ; he would say that is 
not the one. At last some one was in his house tell- 



THE REASON WHY. 77 

ing that there was a lady on Brooks Street, East 
Boston, who had just begun to practice, and I was 
sent for. As soon as he saw me, he said, this is the 
one I saw in my dream. I shall be cured. He was 
very much reduced, thin and weak, but of a will that 
was wonderful. He engaged me at once, stipulating 
a sum I should receive every Saturday evening, and 
also agreeing that he would do whatever my guides 
saw fit for him. And I will here state that I never 
had a patient that showed more fortitude in suffering, 
or more faith in the influence which he could not see, 
but so easily feel. Oftentimes I would sit by the bed, 
and his wife a little distance from me, when I would 
feel the power taken from my brain, and conveyed to 
his, and in a few minutes he would be sleeping 
soundly. We would leave the room, and he would 
sleep till morning. This was all the opiate he received 
during my three month's treatment of him; the 
guides telling him he was so weak, they could magne- 
tize him through me, as it was conducive to his 
cure, — he had taken so much poisonous medicine 
before. 

While I attended him, all his medicines were pre- 
pared by myself, and his wife, from instructions 
through me, by my spirit guides. And in three 
months from the time I was first called to him, he 
was a well man, and for fourteen years enjoyed good 
health, and gave to the world the truths he had 



78 THE REASON WHY. 

learned, while lying upon a bed of suffering, — that 
there were spirit guides, interested in earthly scenes, 
and that they could manifest themselves through 
human organizations. 

Who can tell why such changes take place in the 
circumstances that surround human beings ? At the 

time I attended Mr. N , his minister, for he 

belonged to the Methodist church, used to come quite 
often to see him, and became very much interested in 
his case, and gleaned all the information he could 
concerning his cure; and many times, on a Sunday 
morning, when reading to, or praying with my patient, 
would this man stand outside in the hall, waiting to 
. be admitted. He seemed surprised, that we who held 
spiritual views should offer prayer. Why, the word 
Spiritualism itself, implies intercourse with the de- 
parted, and a positive belief in a future existence ; 
and prayer is the sincere desire of the heart, flowing 
out towards the great source of all purity and life, 
God, or an outflow of the divinity within us. And 
no person, understanding spiritual truth, could fail to 
see that to own our being influenced or controlled by 
those in spirit life, who had lived and suffered, whose 
love and sympathy were with us, who had been pray- 
ing spirits, or those who had devotion large in their 
own physical organization, but would offer prayer to 
the Giver of all good. 

I attended in the family at times for fourteen years, 



THE REASON WHY. 79 

when, on returning from a journey, I was told that 
he, Mr. N., was very sick, and had sent for me, hav- 
ing been sick three weeks. I hastened to his bed- 
side, and never shall I forget the agonizing face that 
looked up into mine. After I had made an examina- 
tion, he asked, tk What do you think ails me ? " I 
said, " typhoid, gastric fever." " Well," said he, " I 
shall then die ; and I think my doctor had better be 
in the country, digging potatoes, than to be here prac- 
ticing medicine. He never got a living at preaching, 
and so took up doctoring. I waited for you, and this 
is the result. He has been treating me for simple di- 
arrhoea, and I have felt that I was very sick." In a 
few days he passed away. 

Strange to say, that was the same man, that four- 
teen years before was a preacher. God did not elect 
him for the work. So he is to-day doing worse, 
trifling with the bodies of human beings, without the 
least adaption for the work, not knowing that surely 
he will reap his reward. 



80 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Those who do not understand spirit influence, may 
be glad to learn how a new influence approaches a 
medium. 

1st. By throwing upon the physical body of the 
medium, the symptoms of the disease they had before 
they passed away. 2d. By touch or influence on 
the left or negative side. 3d. By a blending of the 
mental, or spiritual, through the law of attraction. 
Such medium cannot be controlled for physical 
manifestations, or materializations. For the mystery 
of mediumship, is the mystery of human life itself, 
and depends almost wholly upon inherited temper- 
aments, peculiar organization, original gifts, and care- 
ful culture. It is not really necessary one should 
be entranced to receive communications from the 
spirit world, or to get impressions, or even give 
tests. Often, conscious-mediums are the most reli- 
able. Sometimes, when persons enter my office, they 
bring with them their spirit friends, and these spirit 
friends come up to me, and blend so easily with me, 
that for the time being, I seem to be the person them- 



THE REASON WHY. 81 

selves, and can go on and tell precisely what they 
wish to say, and know and feel, that the spirit stands 
at my side ; and I feel the influence upon my face, 
and for the time, we are one, blending our spirits; and 
yet I am conscious, all of the time, and conversing 
with persons in the room, at the same time. But it 
would be impossible for me to do this of my own will, 
or by appointment, or for money, let the amount be 
ever so great. In these communications I have never 
known one word to be false ; but when communica- 
tions are given by guides, they are sometimes mis- 
taken in what they relate, showing that they do not 
see clearly, and I have proven it in more instances 
than one. 

In January, 1874, I entered Music Hall, Boston, to 
hear Gerald Massay lecture, and when seated, a strange 
lady came and seated herself beside me. My eyes 
closed without volition of my own, and I seemed to 
be another person. A spirit said to me, help me to 
reach my mother. I turned to the lady, and told her 
a brother of hers, was standing beside me, — that he 
wanted to write to his mother. Neither of us had 
paper or pencil. I was obliged to send out for them. 
When they came, I wrote all the particulars con- 
cerning his mysterious death ; and the reasons for it, 
which had ever been a mystery to them, — the sister 
sobbing all the while, — and the spirit keeping my 
eyes closed all the time, that I might not see what 



82 THE REASON WHY. 

was written. Also gave her information concerning 
some work she was doing at her home. She was an 
entire stranger to me, I never having seen her before, 
neither have I since. Strange as it may seem, I was 
seemingly conscious all the while, and yet heard 
nothing of the lecture. 

The lady was never in Boston before, and left 
that evening ; next morning I received the following 
note : — 

Boston, Jan., 11th, 1874. 
My Dear Mrs. Crafts: 

As I have so very brief a time to stay, (we go at 
8.30), I can say but a few words ; but I do desire to 
thank you from my heart, for the comfort you have 
given me. May God bless you in your work. If you 
should again be influenced by the spirit who came 
to-day, I wish you would write me. Do not hesitate 
to tell me just what he says — let it be what it may. 
I think I shall see you again in this life, but if not, 
farewell, and God bless you. 

Your friend, 

E. L. K . 



THE REASON WHY. 83 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Cheered and comforted by outside influence, is the 
experience of every true medium, through the blend- 
ing of the outside spirit, with our inner life ; yet there 
may be doubting ones, as there always will be, but if 
they desire to solve this great problem, let them just 
examine themselves ; as many will say to me, " why 
do I not have these things come to me ? " But on 
acquaintance with them, I cease to wonder. The lack 
of spirituality, avariciousness, want of sincerity, sel- 
fishness, jealousy, uncharitableness, and a whole cata- 
logue of minor evils, which they can see in others, 
are simply the reflection of what exists in them- 
selves. Who, but themselves, know the sacrifices 
that poor mediums make, in fighting this battle 
for the emancipation of thought? I have always 
been busy with my own affairs, endeavoring to solve 
the reason why there was so much difference in the 
same family, although the same father and mother; 
and why there was so much love between some of the 
members of the same family, and so little between 
others. And I have come to this conclusion, that 



84 THE REASON WHY. 

there is some truth, and a great deal of philosphy, in 
a planetary law, that in some way rules the events of 
life, which, in due time, will be given to the world, in 
a way easier to be understood than now ; and it may 
explain why there is such a tendency for members of 
the same family to take up different opinions and 
professions, and go through life under certain circum- 
stances, in spite of all opposition or censure to the 
contrary, and live out their. own natural life. God 
speed the time when this opposition may cease, as 
persons are oftentimes on the verge of the grave, 
before justice is rendered them. As patients enter 
my office, I glance at them, and place them at once, 
under the planetary law, which I think they belong ; 
and will say I have been astonished at the results, 
the similiarity of action and expression ; and am con- 
vinced that if I had the time to spare, could make it 
one of the most pleasing of the natural sciences, that 
could be learned to an intelligent people ; and I even 
now would not be associated in business, with man or 
woman, who had Mars governing the upper, and 
Saturn the lower part of the face, as experience has 
taught me very sad lessons in that direction. I am 
not writing to prove astrology, or fatalism, but believe 
there is something in the science ; and the only way 
we can overcome the consequences of the planetary 
condition, is by the law of cultivation concerning 
every thing that pertains to life ; and in so doing, we 



THE REASON WHY. 85 

become receptive to the influences of the higher in- 
telligences. I have asked the question many times of 
astrologists, and their answers would tend to make 
one a materialist, which I never could be ; and I will 
answer my reader in my own way : — 

In my young days I was fond of reading. In my 
more mature years, was an observer and thinker, and 
being blessed with an organization, or disposition, to 
naturally aspire to spiritual things. God has an- 
swered the aspirations of my soul, by giving me in- 
spiration to act from. I cannot conceive how any 
man or woman, believing in God, and the immortality 
of the soul, can doubt spirit influences. For do we 
not all exercise more or less influence over one anoth- 
er ? The positive will ever hold the negative in sub- 
jection. And do we not know that it is not the body, 
but the spirit and will, that exercises the power over 
those with whom we come in contact ? And is there 
any thing strange, miraculous or irreligious, in the 
belief, that when we lay aside the human body, that 
the active, thinking spirit, with its own individuality, 
can be cognizant of those they have left in the body ? 
And would it not be the most natural thing in the 
world for them to manifest to us, if they so desire ? 
Does it look strange, to a sensible, thinking man or 
woman, that my father, dying away from home and 
his loved ones, should wish to make himself known ? 
and would it not be the best way to come to his own 



86 THE REASON WHY. 

child, (which I know he did,) and when he had 
learned that he could stand beside her, and through 
her sensitive nature, get an answer from her spirit to 
his, would it not be likely that such information 
would be improved upon ? And when there are 
others that have gone into spirit life, is it any thing 
strange that they should wish to employ the same 
means to reach their friends? If any of us should 
visit another country, and there find a gold mine, 
enough for all our friends, and if love toward them 
filled our souls, should we not be likely to try and 
inform them, so that they might reap the benefit ? I 
feel and believe that our departed friends, going to 
the spirit world, where they find the law of correspon- 
dence, and the law of compensation, to be a reality, 
would wish to make it known ; would it not be natu- 
ral for them to come to us, and tell us each in their 
own way, when they know that Heaven has only been 
a speculative question among us, as it has always 
been, too unreal a Heaven, and too miserable a Hell? 
I have talked with persons, who would work hard to 
disprove and believe, or accept, any hypothesis, how- 
ever absurd, rather than accept the true, simple truth, 
of spirit communion. And if the New Testament 
does not teach spiritual communication, what does it 
teach ? Oh ! how much I have to thank God for, 
that no opposition, or censure, or inducement, could 
make me renounce my faith in the belief of spirit 



THE REASON WHY. 87 

communion, and power of assistance, if we live up to 
the higher principles. 

It is a source of the greatest pleasure to me, to 
know that my father, brothers, children and friends, 
do come and hold social converse with me, each in 
their own way ; and nothing in life would I accept in 
exchange for this knowledge and privilege. Never in 
my life did I feel to be doing God's work more, than 
when a niece of mine came to me, and threw her in- 
fluence upon me with such feelings of grief and sad- 
ness concerning her parents, saying her father was 
sick, and what would her mother do, if he should be 
taken from her ? I-said, " what can I do ? " she said, 
" write to them or go ; I can follow your vitality in 
the letter, and can see mother and father, while they 
read it, and I cannot without." I wrote to them, and 
in a few days she came to me, and threw upon me a 
similar grief; and though semi-conscious myself, could 
not prevent her talking and crying through me, and 
I gained some very queer information concerning that 
letter. After a time I determined to go myself. I 
took plenty of time, going over the house, saying 
nothing to any one, knowing that the dear child was 
using my eyes to see father, mother, brothers and 
sisters, and viewing the new home, (a new house they 
had recently moved into.) When I retired for the 
night, myself and husband talked by raps, until two 
o'clock in the morning, with the unseen ones. And 



88 THE REASON WHY. 

my niece said, " you will tell grandmother that I can 
see her rooms also, and that Willie and I, with lots of 
others, have seen both the new homes. But they are 
not like our's ; ours are so different." I asked, "in 
what way different ? " She said, " I'm not permitted 
to tell all about it." "Are you satisfied?" I 
asked. ' " Oh ! yes," was the reply ; " and sometime I 
will tell you something, when you are where I can." 
Some months after, it had entirely gone from my 
mind, my husband and I stepped into a spiritual 
seance, where they were all strangers. The medium 
was a gentleman y he looked around to me and said, 
" there is some one here, that calls you, Julia, and 
said you were kind to send the box." I said, "thank 
you, for letting me know." "Never mind, you've done 
your duty, and God will bless you." He then said, 
" there is a young girl who says her name is Rosa, and 
she was named for her aunt Rosinia." I thanked 
her. There is no science so interesting to me as the 
spiritual, which teaches man and woman the responsi- 
bility resting upon them in regard to their duties in 
life, and towards others. Spiritualism may have 
attached to it many things that are objectionable, and 
need to be weeded out of its ranks. No sincere 
spiritualist but will admit that. But to say that all 
mediums are frauds, or dishonest, because they cannot 
explain the faith that is in them, or the wonder- 
ful things that come to them, is too much. (St 



THE REASON WHY. 89 

John, iii.: 8.) Can we expect it, when there has been 
so many mistakes made by great and good men, in 
every age ? What theologian can give you any positive 
proof that his faith is a correct one? Can he demon- 
strate it beyond a doubt ? If not then why condemn 
another for differing from him in opinion ? Theolo- 
gians have been the cause of the lack of harmony 
which exists in the religious world to-day, by reason 
of the selfishness of mankind, perverting the God- 
like principle love, which is, or should be the basis of 
all Christianity. Where is the man who dares to 
express his whole soul concerning the spirit world, if 
he belongs to any particular school of theology? So 
it is left to those who are untrammeled in their 
opinions, to open up this advanced science, and face 
the opposition, as education, in one line of thought or 
direction, tends to bigotry, and not advancement. 

A person of religious sentiment, once said to me, 
there is one failure with you mediums, — you are too 
willing to give thanks to your spiritual guides, and 
forget God, the giver. That I never do ; but if I pray 
to God, I would return thanks to those spirit guides, 
who are so tangible to me, whom I know to be my 
father and friends. (1, John, 4 — 20.) 

I cannot believe that God who is everywhere and in 
everything, and perfect in his attributes, would come 
in contact with imperfect beings, and show a separate 
individuality from our own. For sometime, when we 



90 THE REASON WHY, 

are influenced, the name of the controlling spirit is 
given at once. At one time I had a lady in my 
house, who was a medium, and we could sit together 
and hold a slate, and have it rilled with writing, by 
unseen hands. Hundreds of messages were given 
that way, with names signed to them. On one 
occasion; feeling a cuff and sleeve pass over my 
hand, I said to the medium, " are you writing on that 
slate ? " She said, " no ; you see I have a loose 
sleeve on." But I insisted we should hold the slate 
again, — when I asked my brother to write his name, 
right side up to me. When we took the slate from 
under the table, there was my father's name, " Jesse 
S. Nor cross," in a bold hand, right side up to me, and 
of course up side down to her. The question is, what 
science could do this except the spiritual, or an intel- 
ligent, thinking, acting individuality, whom I shall 
always return thanks to. I believe in God as the 
universal father, and the Christ as my elder brother. 
And why should I not believe so ? for true spiritu- 
alism, teaches love to God and our fellow beings; 
and that there is life beyond the grave, and also that 
God's laws cannot be broken with impunity. 

When I see so many good people suffer, and little 
innocent children suffer for the sins of their parents, 
which does not seem either generous or just ; and I 
feel my father's spirit is so near, of him I know, and 
God seems a great way off. Then I ask the ques- 



THE REASON WHY. 91 

tion, does God care for the things of earth ; or having 
created and laid down certain laws, allows people to 
go through life blindfolded or in ignorance, and suffer 
the consequences of their ignorance, in the penalties 
of transgression? Sin is the transgression of God's 
law; and its effects extend to the third and fourth 
generation. Then why teach forgiveness of sin? 
If I forgive my child, for wrong doing, I would not 
cause some terrible calamity to befall them, and extend 
it through future generations. Theologians are to 
blame for presenting God to the people, in such 4 a 
manner, instead of teaching men the responsibility 
that rests upon themselves for wrong doing ; not that 
it is God that punishes, but we, through ignorance, do 
not live in harmony with his laws. Teach the world 
there is no forgiveness of sin, that will evade the just 
penalty of wrong doing ; and you will rid your world 
of one serpent that has undermined society. And 
God speed the time, when the serpent, that, coiled at 
the feet of Mother Eve, will be trodden out of 
existence, by the heel of the women of the nineteenth 
century. 



92 THE REASON WHY. 

DESTINY. 

Is there an unseen destiny, 

That shapes the way of life, 
And when we would be strong and true, 

We find discord and strife ? 
And will there ever be a time, 

We shall know the when and why, — 
And will the veil be lifted, 

If we only work and try ? 

If so, I would learn patience, 

And certain self control ; 
For I would ever wish to do, 

What was best for my own soul. 
For I know there is a darkness, 

That is darker than the night ; 
It's when the young and innocent, 

Have felt the world's sad blight. 

It's when we have lost faith in friends, 

And feel that hope's all gone, 
And know of human weaknesses, 

And feel earth's temptations strong; 
And know that all past life has been, 

By circumstances ruled ; 
Yet, it has been to you and me, 

The hardest of life's school. 

And is there still a recompense, 

For those who suffer, and are strong? 

Or, must we go to spirit life, 
A blight from other's wrongs ; 



THE REASON WHY. 93 

I cannot feel that God, so good, 

Ordained the ways of man, 
Would make a law that's so unjust, 

That we cannot understand. 

Oh, no ! I would rather walk by faith, 

If in blindness it need be. 
Than to believe in such injustice, 

Or doubt God's immensity ; 
And so I live, in hope and trust, 

Though slow progression be, 
Knowing that God, as with his own, 

That we must reap as we have sown. 

So I will trust him to the end, 

And blow hope into life ; 
And will not doubt God's goodness, 

Though I see discord and strife, 
Though storms may beat about me, 

And life's ship sway to and fro, 
I will anchor my hopes in Heaven, 

Where ever I wish to go. 

And I will trust in God that ruleth, 

The universe far and wide ; 
I'll cast all doubt out of my mind, 

God shall be my strength and guide ; 
For as I look back in the past, 

When my young feet would have strayed, 
I have heard the loving voices, 

My child, be not afraid. 

The cross it may be heavy, 

But bear it without a frown ; 
Although you may get weary, 

Its recompense a crown. 






94 THE REASON WHY. 

Oh ! how I love the silence, 

When the still, small voices, seem 
To me like light in darkness, 

From which my spirit gleams 
It's strength and consolation, 

When my body weary be, 
And I am tired of earthly turmoils, 

And their sad miseries. 

But out of all this darkness, 

Comes a Light that's bright and true ; 
And I hear the loving voices again, 

Dear mother, we come to you. 
And then there comes a holy calm, 

O'er my spirit it is thrown ; 
And I hear the loving voices, again, 

You will reap as you have sown. 

Oh ! my sisters, if life's reaping 

Is the very seeds we've sown, 
If we all must reap in spirit, 

Nothing only what's our own ; 
Let us struggle in life's battle, 

If a victory we may gain, 
And renew ourselves in spirit, 

Then our bounty we can claim. 

And, brothers, you have all 

This world upon your side ; 
See you deal with us so justly, 

We can look to you with pride. 
For you know a traitor's banner, 

Can be thrown out to the breeze, 
May delight you for a moment, 

But can never bring you ease. 



THE REASON WHY. 95 

There are scenes which make us shudder, 

And with horror we despise ; 
If you wish to claim our homage, 

From its darkness you must rise. 
You are called our earth's protectors, — 

So I bid you thus beware ; 
There will be a time when justice 

Will recompense, you for your care. 

There is a law, called retribution, 

And it's mighty and it's just, 
And you'll find God's laws are truthful, 

Obey them all we must. 
There is whispering in the breezes, 

That are floating o'er our plain, 
See that justice, is no longer 

Crushed, and nothing but a name. 



90 THE KEASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



DEATH OF WILLIE. 



When we carefully watch the events in human life, 
and the circumstances connected therewith, we can- 
not fail to perceive, that there seems an unseen des- 
tiny that attends us, and in some way shapes our 
lives, or rather that we are destined from the cradle 
to the grave, to do and traverse just so many winding 
paths, and to be hemmed in by just so many circum- 
stances. If there was one occupation that our 
mother despised more than another, it was that of a 
mariner, or those that followed the sea. It was 
wholly from an ignorant prejudice concerning their 
mode of life, and non-association with that class of 
persons. 

When my youngest brother (Willie) became about 
seventeen years old, it seemed as if a strange destiny 
followed him ; he could get no chance to learn a 
trade, and everything he undertook was a failure; 
nothing seemed open to him, and becoming acquainted 
with some young men who went to sea, he felt that 



THE REASON WHY. 07 

he must do something, and so was persuaded to go. 
Mother felt very badly about it ; first, because she 
did not like the water, and then he was her youngest 
child. He went one voyage of a year, and returned 
safely; and in consequence mother's fears were 
lulled, and her opinion of that class of persons some- 
what changed. After remaining at home a few weeks, 
he felt that he must leave again, but she opposed it 
with all her might, having an impression that some- 
thing would happen to him, but to no purpose ; he 
shipped for a voyage from Boston to San Francisco, 
and coming home, said to mother, laughingly, I have 
signed my death warrant, — meaning the shipping 
articles. 

Oh ! how many of us in jest are so truly in earnest, 
but the prophetic spirit within, keeps the physical, 
ignorant of what is to befall us. But what law is 
hidden, remains yet to be revealed to our outer 
senses. The evening before his departure, he spent 
at my house ; I then being interested in rapping and 
tipping, persuaded him to sit with me at the table ; 
when the table, which was a common card table, with 
the leaf turned up on to the top, and an intelligence 
purporting to be the spirit of my father manifested 
through the table, by raps and tips, told Willie not to 
go to California ; as he had lost his life there ; told 
him (Willie) if he went, he would never return. 
But Willie did not believe it, and said we were con- 



98 THE PwEASOX WHY. 

versing with demons. He being somewhat frightened, 
got up and went out into the hall. The table imme- 
diately started after him ; when it came to the door, 
the leaves closed, as it could not pass through the 
doorwav without, it went into the hall and made as 
if going up the stairs. Willie begged of me to stop 
it, which I did ; and in consequence held a conversa- 
tion with him concerning the return of spirits, telling 
him that if he was drowned, or passed away, to come 
to me if possible, (this was in 1861, autumn), which 
he promised to do. He left home, and in due time 
arrived in San Francisco. There he changed vessels, 
and sailed for some port in Russia. The following 
April, as I sat sewing, — a clock on the mantle, which 
had no striking weight, nor had there been any on it 
for ten years, struck nine times. I was surprised, and 
did not know what to think, but did not mention it at 
the time, as my medium powers were troubling me, 
and some of my friends thought me very foolish. 
But on retiring that night, there came a great noise, 
as of persons running too and fro, the creaking of 
ropes, and rattling of blocks, — and, as of the hasty 
swinging of yards, as of men on board ship under 
great excitement. Then the noise went through into 
the next room, in which a cousin was sleeping, and I 
saw my brother Willie, standing by my bed, wet, dripping 
with water, and he said to me, " I was drowned last 
night." I arose and went into the next room, as my 



THE REASON WHY. 99 

cousin was very much frightened, she declaring that a 
large lamp on the mantle shelf, had fallen, and broken 
in pieces on the carpet. I looked around, and found 
nothing disturbed The lamp was in its place, whole 
as before. Getting into bed with her, the bed com- 
menced to rock like a ship at sea, giving me positive 
assurance it was him ; since which time he has ever 
been with me, at intervals. 

When I asked him why he could manifest to me as 
he did on that occasion, he said, "he died in full 
strength, and it was the tie that bound him to us." 

Oh ! the fearful knowledge, knowing your friends 
have passed away, and cannot prove it to others ! I 
informed my mother that Willie was dead ; she would 
not believe it, and begged of me not to believe such 
foolishness. Said it was fearful to believe such su- 
perstitions, as it would lead to or produce insanity. 
Oh ! reader, just imagine yourself standing alone, 
knowing you had ample evidence of the return of 
father and brother, and yet those of your own family 
ignoring the fact, as well as strangers, and believing 
that you had a vivid imagination, or was laboring un- 
der a delusion. It requires courage and combative- 
ness, in no small degree, to combat all the arguments, 
and all the reasons put forth, to show that such things 
cannot be, by the wise ones in the community. 

Well, all I can say is, it has been a blessed delusion 
to me, that brother Willie has given me information, 



100 THE REASON WHY. 

concerning affairs to happen, before they came upon 
me, that would have crushed me, had it been other- 
wise ; and to-day I bow in humble thankfulness to 
God, for the intuitive perception that has blessed my 
life. 

We did not get the news of his death till Decem- 
ber following, when all I had told was verified by the 
captain of the ship in which he had sailed from San 
Francisco. 

Being interested in temperance as well as spiritu- 
alism, I went one afternoon to hear a Mr. M., who 
held a meeting at Temperance Hall, in East Boston, 
the subject being Spiritualism. Soon after entering 
the hall, I came to the conclusion the lecturer had 
been drinking freely. I looked around, and seeing 
the emblems of temperance on the walls, I said, men- 
tally, " Willie, are you here ? " and immediately got 
a response. I said, if you are here, and feel that the 
lecturer is disgracing the hall, make it known to me 
by closing his mouth. If you do, I will address the 
audience myself. The lecturer arose, and after one 
or two attempts to speak, gave it up, and said there 
was some one in the hall who had an influence over 
him. I arose, went to the rostrum, and held the au- 
dience two hours, and there are many persons in East 
Boston can testify to the same. 

And thus my brother has ever been watchful for 
my interest. If at any time he could not control me, 



TEIE REASON WHY. 101 

he would go to 1113* daughter, and tell her what he de- 
sired me to do. Some three years ago, there were 
clouds hanging over me and mine ; and one night I 
was awakened from my sleep, and saw him sitting at 
a table, leaning his arm upon it; and he said, "Julia, 
do you hear the clock strike three ? " and immedi- 
ately the clock in the dining-room struck three. I 
answered, " yes." He seemed to throw an influence 
over my perceptive organs, and said, "you will re- 
member this in the morning." 

He then told me that I had another trouble to pass 
through, and related to me what it was. I sprang up 
in bed, and said, " I cannot bear it. You will prevent 
it." In reply, he said, " impossible ; I cannot if I 
would ; it is better now, than later in life. I can 
counsel you, but cannot prevent the effect of a hidden 
cause. So promise that you will bear it, and I will 
help you through; none but cowards, try to escape 
the responsibilities of life, and its duties. You have 
a maternal duty to perform ; see that you are firm, 
and true to your womanhood. I mil influence those 
I can to assist you ; nothing shall be hidden from my 
eyes, and justice shall be done you and yours." 

This was in May, and the trouble did not occur till 
the following September; when everything turned 
out just as he told me it would. 

Great Heavens ! it is not that our loved ones do not 
come to us, but it is our own unworthy selves, that 



102 THE REASON WHY. 

they cannot approach, because we are so material and 
have so little of spiritual strength to give them to use. 

Our noble boy, he is not dead, 

I cannot have it so ; 
He's only gone to come again, 

And help us here below. 

His spirit's passed to brighter realms, 

And yet I feel him near, 
Cheering me on to a nobler work, 

Yet taking away every fear. 

Two months ago as we retired 

Our slumbers to obtain, 
My thoughts ran wild, and off I roamed, 

And then returned again ; — 

Until my mind on Willie seemed 

To rest, as if a thought I gleaned ; 
From out the mysterious night, 

There came at once a gleam of light. 

There came a tiny, little rap, 

And then were ropes a drawing back, 

Then, hark; a noise so queer and strange, 
A voice from Annie's room then came, 

Saying, "Julia, come; I am afraid ; ope' the door; 

The lamp has fallen on the floor ; " 
I looked the chamber all around, 

Not a mortal thing could there be found. 

I then returned unto my bed, 

Thinking and musing of the dead ; 
And then a quiet seemed to reign, — 

I thanked my God, and slept again. 



THE REASON WHY. 103 

And now I firmly do believe, 

And I myself, would not deceive, 
That Willie returned to me again, 

To fulfill a promise I once obtained. 

It is my faith, that makes me free 

To think of him who went to sea. 
Our darling, noble, impulsive brother, 

His place is vacant, can be filled by no other. 

A. D. 1862. 



104 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XV. 

In writing the experiences of my life and its many 
changes, and also many strange occurrences concern- 
ing others, I expect that there will be those who will 
doubt the truthfulness of what I write. Be that 
as it may, it gives me no uneasiness, for I believe in 
planting the seeds of truth, and waiting God's own 
time to gather in the harvest. 

Why, this lovely summer eve, as my pen is running 
over the paper, I can look back forty years, and see 
many things that were in darkness, have come to the 
recognization of light and might ; and to-day, it is 
hardly safe to disbelieve anything, but wait for the 
coming light. 

To-day an incident occurred in my office, which 
brought to mind a very singular case I had once. A 
Mrs. D , of East Boston, called to see me, pro- 
fessionally ; and while talking, asked me if I wished 
to know about a daughter of hers, which I miracu- 
lously cured some seven years ago ; saying she was 
married, and weighed about one hundred and forty 
pounds. The girl then was (when cured) thirteen 



THE REASON WHY. 105 

years old; she had been siek for sixteen weeks, when 
I was sent for to see what I thought of her. She was 
attended by Dr. C. and Dr. L., of East Boston. I 
found the girl a perfect skeleton; not having taken 
food for fifty-six days ; nor had she opened her eyes 
in all that time ; and the only way the mother could 
tell that there was life in her, was by holding a glass 
over her month, and the dampness showing that she 
breathed ; and my surprise was that physicans could 
have such a case, and take &o little interest in it. 
But poverty is often sufficient reason for wilful 
neglect, and lack of sympathy. But the peculiar 
case, and the singular circumstances surrounding it, 
would naturally interest a searcher after truth, or a 
scientist after knowledge. I am sure I learned a 
great lesson from that case, and have since believed 
in the efficacy of prayer, and truth in a higher life. 
The girl seemed like a snake, crawling about the bed, 
writhing and twisting at times, but most of the time 
all drawn up and motionless. My sympathy for the 
poor, worn out mother, and what seemed idiotic 
child, brought all my best feelings into action ; and 
knowing I had been given power, at other times to 
relieve the sick and suffering, I felt that no disease 
known, could make a child appear so strange. I made 
an earnest prayer for her restoration to health, and 
gave such remedies as I thought proper ; and to my 
utter astonishment, the words that came to my lips, 



106 THE REASON WHY. 

seemed foreign to myself, and a feeling of power 
came over me. I seemed as if being lifted up ; and I 
closed the prayer with, bidding some one begone from 
the frail body, that lay before me. This was in the 
morning; in the afternoon I again visited her, and 
while there she opened her eyes, (which had been 
closed for fifty-six days,) and asked for water, which 
I gave her, she drinking a tumbler full. I visited 
her again the next morning, and while there, she 
asked for bread, which was given her; she ate it 
slowly, but not eagerly. I then ordered her a proper 
diet, and from that time, she improved rapidly, until 
she regained her health, which has been good ever 
. since, now seven years. Experience has led me to 
believe that she was held by an influence outside of 
herself; and by earnest prayer, and my strong will, 
assisted by my spirit guides, she was restored to 
health and strength. Why believe that such things 
occurred in Bible times, and doubt what is happening 
every day in your own midst, and will not take the 
trouble to investigate, but pronounce false that which 
you can prove true with very little trouble ? Mark 
11 : 23-24 ; 5 : 40-43. 



THE REASON WHY. 107 



CHAPTER XVI. 

THE STORY CONCERNING THE CURE OF MRS. B. G. 

I have obtained permission of one of my patients 
in Yarmouth, Mass., to relate her cure ; for she has 
outlived all the falsehoods that could be manufactured 
in a bigoted country town, concerning herself and 
family, and has risen so far above the calumnies and 
petty slanderers, whose chief business is to meddle 
with and condemn everything they cannot under- 
stand ; and who think more of what they wear, than 
they do of what they are; and many of them are 
afraid of Spiritualism, because they have sins to 
hide, — not knowing that spirits do not come to retail 
slander, nor rebuke sinners, but to let the light in 
concerning our spiritual development for another 
sphere of existence ; for all the higher influences see 
too much of unhappiness created by human beings, 
and see so little of that religious element that is 
professed, but not possessed; and while they regret 
the necessity of reproof sometimes, they well know 
that the seed of human kindness will spring up 



108 THE REASON WHY. 

wherever sown, and all malignant slander will return 
unto its own. Some years ago, on one of my pro- 
fessional visits to East Dennis, Mass., I was called to 
see a lady in the town of Yarmouth. Upon entering 
the house, I felt sure that there was something pecu- 
liar concerning the case ; although finding the lady, 
Mrs. G., in a very feeble condition, I seemed to feel 
that I should never cure her, unless she was in my 
own house. She was sick in many ways, but the 
spasms she was subject to, I was sure could not come 
from the physical condition, which I then found her 
in. She was one of those sensitive women, who have 
great mental strength within a weak body, and who 
had spirituality large, and self-esteem small ; benevo- 
lence large, and withal a kind heart, which was oft- 
times pierced by the unkind treatment of so-called 
friends, and not being well understood. Of a retir- 
ing nature, of mediumistic powers, which she knew 
nothing about, her religious views being strictly Or- 
thodox Congregationatist. I saw at once she needed 
strength to come to my house, and I must first build 
her up. So I said to those who sent for me, I will 
give her medicine two weeks, then she must come to 
my house in Boston, where I will cure her of her ter- 
rible fits, or spasms. I left medicine for her, and in 
two weeks she was brought to my house in Boston, 
just two days before her husband sailed on a voyage 
to the East Indies. He had been at home for a num- 



THE REASON WHY. 101) 

ber of months, waiting for a ship, he being in a busi- 
ness that kept him from home two years at a time. It 
was on his return from a long voyage that she was 
taken with these violent spasms and contortions, 
which were fearful to witness ; for instance, she 
would become cold, and then one hand would begin 
to move ; in a few minutes the other hand would be- 
gin to move round and round, and she would throw 
her head backwards and forewards ; then the lower 
limbs drawn up till she would be doubled up into a 
ball ; and it seemed sometimes as if every muscle in 
her body was contracted, and her suffering seemed 
intense ; and for ten months these spasms had con- 
tinued ; and strange as it may seem, she had them 
worse when her husband came into the room. Of 
course it gave rise to gossip that he was in some way 
the cause of producing them. Day after day, and 
week after week they continued, and no physician 
could explain the where or the wherefore, or the cause 
that produced such effects. After treating her two 
weeks, she came to my house, arriving about seven 
in the evening. I had her put to bed, and asked her 
if she would have any thing to eat. She said, " no." 
I brought her a cup of tea, and sat down beside her, 
feeling she must be very tired, riding so far, and 
hoping she would not have one of her fits that night. 
She was very weak, and very thin of flesh ; of a bil- 
ious temperament, nerves weak, and other diseases, 



110 THE KEASON WHY. 

which had been about her for years ; — she not having 
been well for four years, keeping her bed most of 
the time, but had these fits in addition to her other 
diseases, for at least ten months. Every thing had 
been surmised and imagined that could possibly be 
thought of, in a country town ; those having sympa- 
thy with ' her, condemning him ; and those having 
sympathy with him, of course falsified every thing 
concerning her ; but the day she came to my house, 
she seemed very much exhausted for an hour or so, 
when I perceived that one hand began to move, and 
the struggle commenced ; the cords contracted in the 
wrists, and such a peculiar expression on the counte- 
nance. In a few minutes, the other hand commenced, 
and they were both drawn up, and she seemed strug- 
gling to free them. Then the head began to be 
drawn down to the breast, and move first one side, 
then the other ; the limbs contracted and were drawn 
up, as if they were going to roll her up in a ball ; and 
after going through these contortions for from thirty 
minutes to an hour, she would be completely ex- 
hausted; then relax, and go to sleep for a while, only 
to awake and go through the same manoeuvre again. 
When it commenced at my house, I thought it was 
terrible to witness. What must it be to go through ? 
While watching her, I placed my hand upon her 
head, to see if she was cold or hot, when she jumped 
away from me, and went against the wall, and said, 



THE REASON WHY. Ill 

with her teeth clenched together, " No, you dorft." I 
asked Mrs. G., "did you speak?" u No," she an- 
swered. I went around the other side of the bed, 
and placing my hand on her head again, when, " No 
you dont ! " came again through the closed teeth. I 
was amazed. Pushing the bed back against the wall, 
I returned to the front side, determined to solve the 
mystery ; and placing my hand firmly on her head, 
strong enough to hold her down, to my own amaze- 
ment, some one placed their hand on my head so pow- 
erfully, that I was obliged to press hard against the 
side of the bedstead, to maintain my own equilibrium ; 
and a feeling, I never shall forget, came over me, fill- 
ing me with such a power, and I so acutely conscious 
of it, filling my soul with a prayer which seemed to 
lift me out of myself ; and I listened attentively 
to every word as it was forced through my own lips, 
from the power that held me in such a strange way ; 
and when the prayer was finished, I heard these words 
forced through my own lips : — "In the name of God, 
come out of this woman ! " which was repeated three 
times. All struggling seemed to cease, and like one 
dying, she fell back, perfectly exhausted, with a sort 
of rattling in her throat, but I seemed myself, held by 
such a strange power. As she relaxed in her strug- 
gles, I lifted my hand from her forehead, and drew 
the clothes up over her, but could not seem to move ; 
when looking up, I beheld a man standing at the foot 



112 THE REASON WHY. 

of the bed, looking at me, and it seemed natural for 
me to say, "was that you trying to injure this 
woman ; " when he nodded his head in answer, 
" yes ; " when looking to see what kind of person he 
was, I saw that he was naked to the waist, and 
different from any person I had ever seen. ,A sort of 
mist arose about him, and condensed in something 
solid, like an iron bar, about one-half a yard long, 
which went right to his forehead ; and immediately a 
stream of blood flowed freely from the wound pro- 
duced. Still the strange power seemed to hold me, 
and he came forward v and knelt at my feet. As he 
did so, I looked down, and there seemed something- 
dark about him. I felt the same strange power on 
my brain again, with all the weight, and my hands 
involuntarily clasped together, and issuing from my 
lips came another earnest prayer ; — when, behold ! 
the dark conditions about him disappeared. He arose 
with a pleased look on his countenance, and went out 
through the corner of the room. The power being 
lifted from me, I turned to my patient, who was 
sleeping soundly, with a moist sweat on her hands and 
face. She slept all night, and when she awoke, I did 
not refer to the scene of the night previous, feeling 
that to tell her would frighten her ; and no one else 
would believe such a story, and I had better wait. 
Giving her her breakfast and a bath, she slept most 
of the next day. I gave her then acute medicines, 



THE REASON WHY. 113 

for two weeks, after which botanic medicines to re- 
store her strength and vitality. She never had one 
of those fits afterwards, and in a few weeks returned 
to her home a well woman, to the surprise of all her 
friends and neighbors, and has continued so ever since, 
with the exception of some slight indisposition, as all 
are subject to. 

Her husband arrived in New York, after an absence 
of nearly two years, and wrote to her to meet him in 
Boston, and they visited me whilst there. I related 
to him the story of his wife's cure, when to my sur- 
prise, he recognized the man from my description of 
him, as a u Kanaka." When he was on a former voy- 
age to the Indies, having some Kanakas on board the 
ship at work, they revolted and undertook to take 
possession of the ship, when he, (Captain G.,) seized 
the first thing that came to hand, which was a mar- 
line-spike, and threw it at one of them with all his 
might, hitting him in the head, and killing him in- 
stantly, which had the effect to quell the mutiny and 
restore order. 

He even went and got his mate, and brought 
him to hear the story from my lips, and also to verify 
what he had told me. After knowing both sides of 
this wonderful story, I asked my guides to explain to 
me why the innocent should suffer so much ; and was 
told, " that the positive will to overcome is always 
used in such cases, and whatever weapon is used, 



114 



THE REASON WHY. 



carries with it the will of the party using it ; and 
consequently his magnetic power, and the spirit of 
the injured man, returns with the rebound and at- 
taches itself to the party injuring another." In this 
case the man being killed, attached himself (the 
spirit) to Captain G., and when he returned home, 
his wife being in feeble health, and consequently 
negative, and also being mediumistic, and wholly 
ignorant of the fact, the spirit left the husband and 
attached itself to her (the wife ;) and, as in old times, 
it required a third and spiritual person to separate 
the spirits. Mark, ix. : 17 — 29. 

My guides told me that I was left in a conscious 
state, that I might realize that there was a power that 
we could call upon to assist in the removal of evil 
influences, which sometimes comes in the form of dis- 
ease. But we must have faith, and ask in sincerity 
and truth. 

I have had many cases similar to this ; and from 
what I know of spirit influence, am positive beyond a 
doubt, that the spirits of the departed do act more or 
less upon human beings ; and it can be easily proved 
that spirits are on, or near the earth at times. Who 
can say that they are not here all of the time ? 

Will some of the more knowing ones, who tell us 
it is " impossible for spirits to communicate with those 
in the body," please to inform us if they leave the 
earth? For if the "body returns to dust," and the 



THE REASON WHY. 115 

" spirit to God, who gave it," it would not have to go 
far, for God is ever}- where. For if there is a place, 
where the weary are at rest, I wish to go there, for I 
know it would be best ; where the sinner will be 
better, and the saints more true, where peace will 
reign forever. My reader, don't you ? 



116 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

When will the time come, that will teach us to 
write what we know and feel to be true, is neither 
egotistical, nor wrong ; but that every human being 
has not only the right, but it is their duty to do so ; 
so much is hidden, that is actually true, — while so 
much is written that is false and fictitious, because it 
is considered as praising one's self, to give any in- 
formation concerning their experiences, or what they 
have done for the benefit of humanity. 

It has always seemed strange to me, to see men get 
up in a religious or temperance meeting, and tell how 
wicked they have been, and how much crime they 
have committed, and such kind of vulgarism p but 
you seldom hear how much good, certain persons have 
done. Experience has taught the world, that such 
men who throw themselves down upon their knees, 
and tell God what he already knows, what poor mis- 
erable beings they are, know themselves better than 
they are known. For my part, when a man is so 
lost to self respect, as to get up in public and tell of 
his degradation, I do not wish to hear it ; neither do 



THE REASON WHY. 117 

I wish my children to, for I think the influence is 
bad ; and it has done more to disgrace religious meet- 
ings, of a reformatory character, than any other one 
thing, as it keeps some of our best people from at- 
tending such meetings. Let me ask why are such 
things permitted ? 

Who would listen for one moment to a weak 
woman, and hear her narrate her crimes, and talk of 
her guilt ? She would be hissed from the rostrum. 
Why is it less despicable, told by a man ? What 
ruined the temperance movement, was the hypocrisy 
and deceit that was constantly behind the scenes. No 
wonder so many of the sons and daughters of Chris- 
tian parents are disbelievers, when they have listened 
to those who have so little knowledge of the laws that 
control our physical being, as to boast that God has 
cleansed them from their sins, when every intelligent 
person knows that sin is the transgression of law, 
and observation teaches us that we cannot evade the 
consequences ! I admit, that by an unseen law, God 
has permitted certain persons, with the help of an 
outside influence, to perform many cures, and help 
certain physical deformities ; but the persons must be 
naturally sympathetic and spiritual in their make up. 
The reason why we have so many imitators or frauds, 
is not because there is no law, but because so few 
understand and live up to the requirements of the 
law. 



118 THE REASON WHY. 

On one of my professional visits to Yarmouth, 
Mass., a few years ago, I was told there was a poor 
man suffering with white swelling of the knee, and 
that the physicians, three in number, said he must 
have his leg taken off. When I heard it, my sympa- 
thies were aroused for the sufferer ; not only was the 
man suffering from disease, but he had not the where- 
with to help himself, being exceedingly poor. I went 
to see him,* and this is what transpired, 

I became entranced, and made a prayer, which he 
said thrilled him through and through ; and while 
in that state, told him he should be well in a few 
days, and his limb as good as the other. They who 
controlled me, proved their power, by helping him ; 
and showed to the world what a power could come 
through a weak woman. I bathed the limb, and or- 
dered a vinegar poultice applied. His sufferings were 
intense for a few hours from the effect of the influ- 
ence thrown upon him, when the pain began to cease, 
the swelling to subside, and in four days the limb was 
well as the other, and has remained so. He is eighty- 
four years old, and last summer walked three miles to 
camp-meeting, and back again the same day. I had 
not seen him in all that time, four years, since I made 
the night visit. 

I believe that those who try to do their duty and 
the will of God, (not through fear, but by faith,) by 



* Gorham Taylor, Yarmouth, Mass. 



THE REASON WHY. 119 

assisting those who cannot help themselves, and are 
weak and suffering, are acted upon through their 
sympathetic natures, by the spirit influences delegated 
for that purpose. 

The messengers God sends to assist us and strength- 
en human hearts, to alleviate human suffering, do not 
come to make money, but come because of the sym- 
pathy that the child of earth has for humanity, and 
they leave the money question entirely to the honesty 
of the person and their good judgment. It is absurd 
to hear people undertake to tell who shall judge of 
my financial affairs, who I shall charge, and who treat 
free? 2, Kings, Chap. 5. My guides assist me because 
I try to be worthy of their love and confidence ; and 
my organization is adapted to their use. I am grate- 
ful for their assistance and help, but they never 
undertake to manage my earthly affairs. 

This accounts for the failure of many mediums; 
they sit down, and expect the spirits will paddle them 
into safe water. But there are spirits I would not trust 
out of the body, any more than I would trust them 
while in it. For the world has too long tampered with 
sin, to expect to do away with it in any other way than 
by the elevation and education of the people. It has 
too long allowed might to trample upon right, because 
right is apt to be non-resistant, forgetting that God is 
all strength, and uses the weak things of the earth to 
overcome the strong ; and it is evident to all thinking 



120 THE REASON WHY. 

minds, that God makes use of earth's children and 
their organization, to advance the natural and spirit- 
ual sciences, as fast as the human race can bear it. 
We all observe that no great discovery is ever made 
by human beings, until the world has need of it, and 
we are ready to accept it ; and we also see that there 
are those who always oppose every advance movement, 
and will always cry fraud, until opposition ceases to 
be the popular side ; when they will quietly say they 
always believed so-and-so. But thanks to a benefi- 
cent God, opposition is the twin sister to progression, 
and brings out the dormant faculties of our natures, 
for I believe there are very few persons, but that can 
give us something in regard to this question of the 
day, — Spirtualism, or the law of communication with 
the unseen intelligences. 

I was once acquainted with a man, who was, or 
appeared to be a sincere Methodist, a great worker in 
the church, and I believe he felt that he was honest 
in his work. But it did not satisfy his soul ; for, 
according to his belief, God afflicted him more than he 
was able to bear; as one child sickened and died, 
then another ; and finally, the last, and only one, was 
burned to death, which made his wife sick at heart. 
She was also very active in church affairs ; at last she 
became in such a state of mind, that she wished to 
retire from the world, believing that God was afflict- 
ing her for some unknown sin. And in consequence 
she went away amongst the Shakers. 



THE REASON WHY. 121 

• 

Oh ! what a consolation would a belief in spirit 
communion have been to that broken-hearted mother! 
how it would have strengthened in her God's love 
and goodness, and taught her that her loved ones 
were waiting for her in the summer land. It is no 
wonder that he became reckless and doubting. It is 
no wonder, with such a belief, that he ignored every- 
thing pertaining to religion. He even doubted the 
honesty of the Shakers, and determined not to go 
there, after his wife had made her mind up to stay 
the rest of her life. He is not the only human soul 
that has been shipwrecked by false theology. Time 
wore on, the wife amongst the Shakers; he went 
recklessly about the world, left the little town of M., 
and after a time, married again, this time an Orthodox 
Congregationalist, and became again converted, and 
joined the church. What hypocrisy! He did not 
dare to act himself, — tortured by conscience, that 
never sleeps, and trying to swallow that which has 
been taught by another creed, equally as false, nothing 
but simple faith to cling to, no positive evidence. In 
this frame of mind he sought me, hearing that I had 
said I not only believed, but had positive knowledge 
of spirit communion. He said he was worse off than 
before, and only asked that he might be led aright. 
I told him to pray to God, to give him the light, not 
through the church, but to his own spirit. I did not 
see him again for years, and that just before he died. 



122 THE REASON WHY. 

He sent for me, to tell me he had seen the Light, and 
would die in a few weeks : telling me that he wanted 
me to tell this story to every man or woman who was 
in spiritual darkness : and I put it in this book, to 
cheer some doubting one, to read after I am gone, to 
meet my loved ones in the spirit home. 

This is his story : — "I arose one morning about 
four o'clock, to go out to attend to my business, and 
finding it too early, took the cushion off a chair and 
laid down by the stove ; and as soon as I had laid 
down, some one took me by the arm, and said, ' come 
with me ; ' we went out at the front door into the 
yard ; then the spirit said to me, l we must get into 
the wind, so as to be lifted to the air above.' Soon 
we were lifted off our feet and could see everything 
below. We floated in the air till we reached Boston, 
(Salem, Mass., being his place of residence,) where 
we visited the hospitals, and saw the physicians dis- 
sect human bodies; after which we went to New 
York, visiting the various hospitals ; the guide said it 
was that I might see how much suffering there was. 
Visited also other countries, which I was told was to 
instruct me concerning human life. He told me to 
remember all I saw ; and he also touched my per- 
ceptive organs, that I might remember. He told me 
that he, the guide, would give me a glimpse of the 
spirit world ; as all knowledge is from that world, trans- 
mitted through human organizations. He showed me 



THE REASON WHY. 123 

a beautiful, open plain, laid out in paths as far as the 
eye could see, looking like a massive grass plot, on 
which were numerous little white tents. I turned to 
my guide, and asked what it meant. He answered, 
4 in my father's house are many mansions; if it were 
not so I would have told you.' Then he led me from 
one to another of these tents. I noticed that some 
were occupied and some were not. I asked the 
reason of it. He told me that some were living on 
the earth yet. As we passed along, I noticed that 
some of the tent doors were closed, and the names 
were on the doors ; on one of which I read, H. P. C, 
my own name, aged fifty-seven years. I asked the 
reason of this, and was told that in eight weeks I 
should occupy that tent. My guide now said, we 
must return to earth. I begged him to let me remain, 
but he said I must return and relate what I had seen, 
that he would come for me again; as we came towards 
earth, I met many persons which I knew. They 
would salute to us and pass on. All seemed to be 
travelling in the air, the same as we were ; some of 
them would have a guide hold of them, but most of 
them were travelling without. I asked what it meant, 
and was told, those to whom the guide is connected 
must return to earth to inhabit the physical body for 
a while ; those without, have died and are separated 
from the body. As we came near home, we met a 
lady who was one of my near neighbors ; as I spoke 



124 THE REASON WHY. 

to her, I told my guide that she lived very near me, 
with her sister. 'Well,' said he, 'she is dead and 
buried, since you came away.' As we came near my 
house, we met the other sister. I told him, (the 
guide) that was the other sister. He .said, 'she is 
dead, but will not leave the earth till her body is 
buried. I then came to my own house, where I found 
my body stretched on a bed which the guide said, I 
must enter again, for a while. As soon as I came to 
myself, I asked my wife concerning the neighbors. 
She evaded my question, till I told her I had seen 
them both in the spirit world, and knew they were 
dead. When she told me that they had both died 
with diptheria, whilst I lay unconscious, I wanted to 
tell my wife what I had seen, and that I believed I 
should die in eight weeks ; but she would not listen 
to me, and said it was all a dream, or the vagaries of a 
disordered brain. So I sent for you, Mrs. C, as the 
doctors say it was apoplexy which I had." He 
recovered so as to be able to go out, went to an 
insurance office, got his life insured for three thousand 
dollars, for the benefit of his wife and child, and in 
eight weeks had a second attack and died. I went to 
his funeral in Salem, Mass. 



THE KEASO.N WHY. 125 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

At one time I stepped into a clairvoyant's office, to 
inquire for some one, and found the lady engaged; 
and while waiting in the reception room, a gentleman, 
in advanced years, well dressed, and intelligent appear- 
ing, came in, and after waiting awhile — asked me if 
this lady, the one who kept the office, was a clair- 
voyant. " I think she is," was my reply. " Well, I 
don't believe anything at all, in clairvoyance," said 
he. I said to him, " did you ever stop to think that it 
never changed a fact, because you did not believe in 
it? I will give you a test of clairvoyance, and it 
shall not cost you anything. Standing by your side 
is a young man, who committed suicide, and wants to 
see his mother very much, as she is nearly broken- 
hearted on account of it ; and you do not know why 
he did so. His name is Charley." I then arose to go 
out, when he said, " why ! don't leave me so. Where 
do you live ? " I handed him my card. He in- 
quired how soon I could go to see his family. This 
was on Monday ; I visited them on the following 
Thursday,and while there, personated the young man, 



126 THE REASON WHY. 

by putting a handkerchief about my neck, in the same 
way that his was when found. I then gave his mes- 
sage to his father, mother and sisters. He passed 
away three years before. I had never met any of the 
family or ever heard of them, and they were entirely 
ignorant of spirit communion. Was that not suffi- 
cient evidence of the return of the spirit of the 
departed to them? It was; and I know that if Dr. S., 
of Reading, was asked the question, he would not 
deny the fact. So, reader, doubt nothing, but strive 
to understand all .things, and thank God that all 
knowledge was not given to the great and learned ; 
but God takes the weak to confound the strong. 

Some four years ago I was in Saxonville, on busi- 
ness connected with my profession, and while there, 
stopping at the house of Mr. A., I had wonderful 
manifestations, by raps, as soon as I retired at night ; 
so much so, that I spoke to the family about it. Any 
one in the hall could hear the raps, as I was talking 
with them. I was intending to remain until Saturday, 
but on Tuesday was told by my spirit friends, to go 
home at once, as there was a letter on my office table, 
with bad news in it. I went the same afternoon, and 
found the letter on my table. My spirit friends, E. C. 
and Willie, were there, and it makes me tremble, and 
the tears will fall, when I think how I suffered in 
reading that letter, and how kind my spirit friends 
were in advising me what to do, — brother Willie tell- 



THE REASON WHY. 127 

ing me just who to go to for advice and assistance, 
they (the spirits) telling me it was their time to help 
me, as I had helped them. E. C. was a young 
woman, who thought her life had been shortened by 
her surroundings, and whose mother was a dear friend 
of mine. I shall always remember her kind sympa- 
thy in connection with my spirit brother, and the 
advice they gave me in my trouble, when earthly 
friends seemed to stand aloof, fearing they might 
intrude. Then did I realize, more than ever, the 
power of the unseen, whose strength seemed to in- 
crease when we need their aid. This same young 
lady came to me once, and told me her husband's 
mother had a cancer ; begged of me to go and see 
her, and do all I could for her ; not that they har- 
monized on the earth, but to give her spirit light, that 
she (the mother) might not continue in spiritual 
darkness ; and also that she (the spirit E. C.) might 
see her husband and child. I have many times at her 
request, left my office and gone into that house, that 
she might see her child. I believe, in fact I know, 
that the spirits use a medium's brain and eyes to see 
and know what is taking place in the physical world. 
The spirit of this same young woman, has many 
times been to me in my office, and taken messages 
from me to her mother, at the seashore, where she 
would attract her mother's attention by raps, and then 
communicate with her, and tell her what I had said. 



128 THE REASON WHY. 

She has asked me to go to her father's house, when 
they are in the city, that she might converse with 
them. After manifesting in various ways and through 
different mediums, and convincing her friends beyond 
a doubt, of her existence in spirit, she seemed to have 
accomplished her work. She then told me if I wished 
for her, to call for her, and she would come. She 
said, " there were those on earth she loved, but could 
not approach, they were so wrapped up in material 
things." I asked her if it did not make her feel sad. 
She answered, "they have an eternity to outlive 
it in." 

I was called to visit a patient who had been at- 
tended by Dr. I., of East Boston, when, after return- 
ing to my office, I found that I had company. A tall 
gentleman, a spirit with full sandy beard, light hair, 
and blue eyes, seemed to be close to me, walking by 
my side. I asked him what he wanted. In reply, he 
said, " I want to see my brother Richard." I asked 
who he (the spirit) was ; he said his name was " P. 
Ingalls." 

I immediately wrote a note to his brother, asking 
him to call at my office at his earliest convenience. 
When he came I said to him, a spirit brother of yours 
has come to me, and I do not wish to be annoyed by 
any one's friends ; and the only way to prevent it, is 
to let him give his communication. You may laugh 
or say what you please ; to me it is a sacred dut}^, as 



THE REASON WHY. 129 

I feel there is a responsibility resting upon me. Then 
he said, " let us know what it is." The spirit said to 
him, " Richard, the redeeming trait in your character 
is love for me ; " which seemed to affect the Doctor 
very much. He then said, "arrange your worldly 
affairs in a proper manner, so that there would be no 
trouble if any one else had the settlement of them. 
My health broke down by the transgression of natu- 
ral laws. I am permitted to- warn you. You have 
habits that must be overcome, or you'll come to me 
before the snow falls in November." (This being in 
the early spring.) 

The rest of the conversation was of a private 
nature. Suffice it to say, he was taken sick the last 
of October, and died in November, before snow fell. 

I told a number of my friends of the prediction, 
that they might watch coming events ; and he, Dr. L, 
told his friends, but did not give them the name 
of the medium; and after he died there was great 
inquiry for the lady who had predicted his death so 
long before. 



130 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

MKS. H. E. A., DEVELOPED. 

At the age of twenty-three years, my daughter, 
Mrs. H. E. Allen, surprised me by having her medium- 
istic gifts developed, I not realizing she had them ; 
and knowing how much mediums suffer, had never 
encouraged it in her, and she had never manifested 
any desire or interest in it whatever. I should nat- 
urally have opposed it, knowing the suffering and 
opposition sure to follow, from a lack of appreciation 
by relatives and friends. Matt., x.: 34 — 38. 

When her youngest child was about a week old, 
Mrs. W., the nurse, came to me, and called me to Mrs. 
A.'s room to see what was the matter, as it was so 
cold all of a sudden. It seemed as if a large wheel 
was in motion in the room. I went, and was sur- 
prised, as I had never seen anything like it before. 
Mrs. Allen seemed to be sleeping, and yet it was so 
cold you could not lay on the bed beside her. We 
placed quilts at the windows, but it done no good. 
The stove, with a hot fire in it, had no effect. The 



THE REASON WHY. 131 

air seemed to be in motion, and after a time she 
seemed to be talking to some one. Then it became 
quiet, and the motion ceased. In a few days she 
complained of seeing faces on the window curtain, 
and persons moving about her. She not being well, 
I felt very much anno}*ed, as I had never seen any 
such manifestations before, and did not wish it. But 
the influence would not depart, and after a few weeks 
I had no power to control her, neither had she any 
power to control it. But they would come and talk 
with her, and she seemed to be in communion with an 
intelligence different from any thing I had ever seen. 
It continued thus till the morning of June fourth, 
when she came down from her room partly dressed, 
semi-conscious, and addressed me as Madame, and 
asked if the next day would not be her birth-day; 
and requested me to dedicate her to them, by deco- 
rating my room with flowers, and inviting our friends to 
witness her coming out as a Musical and Inspirational 
Medium, telling me they had been about her for many 
years, and were going to educate her. She being a 
natural musician, and I not having the means, they 
would act as her teachers, and any one who has heard 
her play, will see they have done all, and more than 
was promised. The names of her musical control, 
were, Ralph, a German, Bianski, an Italian, and 
Helena, an American lady. She has many others, 
but these are the leading ones. At this time, a gen- 



132 THE REASON WHY. 

tleman connected with the press was invited in to 
see her, and wrote the following : 

"Mrs. H. E. Allen, who resides in East Boston, has 
been in process of development several months. At 
times her inner sight was opened, and she became 
conscious of mingling with beings of a higher order 
than those of earth, amid scenes of dazzling beauty, 
and then of hearing seraphic music, and the eloquence 
of immortality, 4 in thoughts that breathe and words 
that burn.' The stream of life, like the vision of 
Mirza, swept before her in endless procession, with its 
hopes and fears, to be followed by the dull monotony 
of earth. Scenes like these were often presented to 
her, but she did not understand their import. Of a 
common-sense turn of mind, she asked the utility of 
them. From childhood, she had been a believer in 
the immortality of the soul, and the truths of the 
sacred Scriptures. Her mother, Mrs. Julia A. Crafts, 
possessed mediumistic power of high order ; so there 
did not seem any need of extra evidence to convince 
her of spiritual intercourse, and she certainly had no 
desire to become a public medium. While turn- 
ing these thoughts over in her mind, she heard a 
voice say, 'wait and see. You will receive a birth- 
day present, and the future will unfold your powers.' 
More was said, but this embraced its substance. The 
night preceding the anniversary of her twenty-third 
birth-day, was the most interesting of her whole life. 



TILE REASON WHY. 133 

Though conscious of laying in bed, she was taken 
in spirit to a splendid mansion, and found herself the 
center of a brilliant assembly of all ages and sexes, 
every one of whom knew her intimately, and con- 
gratulated her on the happy occasion. There was 
shaking of hands, music and dancing, and all the 
innocent delights of earth spiritualized, and the scene 
was kept up most of the night. Towards morning 
the compan}' separated, wishing her many returns of 
the anniversary, and she sank into a sound sleep the 
moment the last visitor disappeared. The next day 
her inner sight was permanently opened, and this was 
the gift promised her. Several young friends who 
had passed out of the form, came to her personally, 
and requested that those near to them should be sent 
for, as they desired to communicate with them. In 
several cases, the tests of the communications re- 
ceived were beyond question . She differs from most 
mediums in this, that she sees each spirit who writes 
through her, and if the writing is not coherent, she 
immediately pauses and asks the spirit what is meant, 
so there may be no mistakes. She has the assurance 
that in the course of a few months, the spirits will 
be able, in her presence, to speak face to face with 
those who are in sympathy with them. The fact that 
she sees the spirit who writes through and by her, and 
can communicate with it, is a gift possessed by so few, 
that it may be considered a new phase of mediumship. 



134 THE REASON WHY. 

All that was promised, and even more, has been 
verified through Mrs. A." 

In about a year after her first control, she became 
very ill. Indeed her life was despaired of. She 
would not have any physician but her mother, not 
realizing how hard it was to be mother and physician. 
After three weeks sickness, I determined to have a 
lady physician to consult with me ; did not tell Mrs. 
A. about it. When the lady came she went into Mrs. 
A.'s room, looked at her, felt her pulse, came out into 
the dining-room, and said to me, " your daughter will 
not live till morning." It shocked me. I stepped 
into her room ; as I did so, she lifted her hand, and 
. made motion as if to write. I got paper and pencil. 
She wrote, " send that woman from the house ; Hattie 
is not going to die." Signed, " Willie." 

Soon a control influenced her who called himself 
"Dr. Fitz," and through her own lips, told me that 
she would not die, " but to give her a cup of tea and 
some wine crackers, so that he might vomit her." 
Then he raised her upon her feet, and threw her 
heavily upon the bed, where she lay quiet for some 
time ; the hemorrhage ceased and she began to re- 
cover, and soon regained her usual health. 

She has had three very severe fits of sickness, and 
every time the same influence, Dr. Fitz, has come, and 
through her own lips, told me what to do. At one 
time she lay unconscious for hours, with every muscle 



THE REASON WHY 135 

rigid, — when he wrote on her hand, "Give Tincture 
of Lobelia," which relieved her at once. At another 
time he ordered her " put into a carriage and ride five 
miles," which was done, and she recovered. For the 
same disease, earth physicians would not allow them 
to be moved in bed ; which disease is considered 
incurable by the regular physicians. 

When these spirit physicians have come to us in 
our need, we place the fullest confidence in them ; and 
experience has taught us that they never fail those 
who trust them. I write this, simply with regard to 
myself and daughter, not knowing the experience of 
others. 

Mrs. A. sailed in a steamer for Sydney, C. B., with 
her children, and every night my brother Willie came 
and informed me just how they got along while on 
the water ; and when she arrived, she wrote me, that 
" Uncle William made quite a sailor of her, making 
her get up early, and go on deck, telling her it would 
prevent her being sea-sick." 

It is now eight years, and her guides have been very 
faithful to her, teaching her to play the piano, and as- 
sisting her in many ways, and as she is naturally spirit- 
ual, she draws that kind of influence about her. But, 
my reader, let me impress upon your mind that there 
is much suffering attending a mediumistic life ; your 
susceptibility to surrounding influences, and keenness 
of perception, and sensitiveness, which is a source of 



136 THE REASON WHY. 

great annoyance, and sometimes physical suffering ; — 
for, like a telegraph operator, the spirits of your de- 
parted friends or acquaintances, come to us to send 
their messages, and we don't feel like going to their 
friends, so will ofttimes suffer, as their friends might 
be opposed to such a belief. 

Sometimes persons will come to Mrs. A., and influ- 
ence her, so that it will make her sick, by throwing 
their disease upon her, which they passed away with, 
when she will come to me, and I will reason with 
them, and tell them how they injure her, and explain 
to them just as if they were present in the body, 
when they will be satisfied. Yet there are persistent 
ones, that will not yield, but are determined to reach 
their friends. Bear in mind, reader, that true medi- 
ums are not mediums from choice, but it comes to 
them, and they are obliged to accept it. Sometimes 
a high and sensitive control offers themselves to a 
medium ; if not accepted, will go away and make 
room for others. 

When Mrs. A. first became controlled, she would 
take a pencil, and write page after page of hiero- 
glyphics and symbols. We could not read it, nor find 
any one that could, and being opposed by her hus- 
band, he fearing it might hurt her, she gave it up, and 
that class of influences would not stay, unless wanted, 
while another class would be more persistent and 
remain. 



THE REASON" WHY, 187 

Mrs. A's influences are peculiar. When playing 
the piano, the influence comes on the sensorium, 
passing down through the arms and hands, touching 
the keys lightly but firmly. Musicians say it cannot 
be utilized, as the touch cannot be learned, but is 
peculiar to herself. She is conscious, but does not 
care to converse, unless some spirit tells her their 
friends are in the room, then she will give the message 
quite readily. 



138 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Then the blessed gift of seeing. One of my first 
experiences was in church. One Sunday morning, 
being interested in the sermon, when I noticed I 
could not see the minister, for a mist that came up 
before my eyes ; and a man with a surplice on, stood 
before me, and held towards me the Bible, open, and 
it was right side up to me, and wrong side up to him. 
I read the chapter through. * It was the twelfth 
chapter of first Corinthians. When I looked up in 
his face to see what it meant^ he said, "Head, Me- 
filed;" and dissolved with the mist. 

At another time, I saw a lady sitting back to me, in 
a mist, same as before, and her hair from her head fell 
all about her. I was waiting and watching intently to 
see her turn her head, that I might see who it was, 
when a face came close to mine, and a voice said, 
" many as the hairs of thy head, shall thy blessings be, 
if thou wilt take up the cross and follow me.'' 

At another time, I saw a child laying upon a pillow 
as if sleeping, and I noticed how peculiarly it lay on 
the pillow. Six weeks afterwards I was called hastily 



THE REASON WHY. 139 

to see an infant which was only three weeks old, that 
choked to death by the breaking of a blood vessel in 
its head, and I staid to lay it out. After placing it 
on a pillow, and laying it on a settee, I went to see 
if its head was right; when to my astonishment, 
there was the same child handed to me on a pillow, 
in church, three weeks before it was born, 

I ask the question, do others learn their lessons in 
the same way, or have any such experiences ? I 
explain it in this way. My guides wish to make me 
self-reliant, and by showing me these things it made 
me interested, and they chose the time when I was 
most negative ; and that would naturally be, when 
my mind would be listening to another preaching. 
Another beautiful way our friends have of manifest- 
ing to us, is by touch. I will be reading, when some 
one will touch me. I always speak aloud to them, 
and thank them, to let them know I feel their pres- 
ence : and they will stand beside me, and talk to me, 
and will sometimes tell me of some one that is coming 
to see me ; and many other strange things. Sometimes 
I know at once who it is ; at other times I cannot tell 
who it is. It does not seem strange to me, as they 
have come in the same way for so many years. Do 
we not often speak of our friends in the body, and 
have them come in very soon, showing that we feel 
the influence of their mental telegraph ? for when we 
think of persons or places, we go there in thought. 



140 THE REASON WHY. 

So when the persons thought they would call on us, 
their spirit in thought preceded their body, and we 
caught it at once, This has been verified in three 
cases in our office to-day. 

A few weeks ago, Mrs. A. was on the street, going 
to the city to call upon her mother, when a voice said 
to her, " your mother will be at your house in a few 
minutes ; " when she turned about and went home, 
meeting her mother at the door just going in. 

When Mrs. A. was first controlled, she could see 
some one in spirit form beating time for her as she 
played the piano ; v sometimes a lady, at others a 
gentleman, and after a time they would exercise her 
hands, and play very rapidly ; at other times would 
play nothing but octaves, and bo on, till she became 
proficient as a player; they never allow her to use 
notes, and many pieces which she plays, she has never 
heard ; yet they prove to be the composition of some 
of the great masters. 

At one time I went to East Dennis, Mass., which is 
just off the line of railroad, about four miles from 
the station. It happened that I was the only passen- 
ger in the mail carriage from the depot. Arrived 
about noon, and stopped at Mr. J. H.'s. The carriage 
left me at the house, went to the post office, (a little 
store near by) and left the mail, returned, and in 
going to the stable in the rear of the house passed the 
dining-room windows. We had just got seated at the 



THE REASON WHY. 141 

table for dinner; as the carriage passed, I saw a man 
get out and come up on the piazza, as if to come in at 
the door ; when instead he came right up to the win- 
dow and disappeared ; in a moment I felt a touch on 
my head, and a voice said: "Say to those present 
(there were ten of us at the table) that John Picket 
dropped dead in a concert room, in Philadelphia, night 
before last, and a notice of my death is in the mail 
bag." I immediately told them. They were very 
much surprised, and a lady present said, it was her 
daughter's husband's father, but that he was well a 
few days before. The post-master sat at the table, 
and heard what was said, went out and brought in the 
letter to Mrs. S. H., which verified the truth of the 
spirit's presence and statement; it also told many 
other things quite as strange. Mrs. H. left that after- 
noon for Philadelphia, to attend the funeral, where 
she remained with her daughter. Some two years 
after Mrs. S. H. sickened and died, and was brought 
to East Dennis for burial by her son-in-law, and after 
the funeral, he having been told about his father com- 
ing to me, he came to Boston to see me, and wanted 
a sitting. I did not know him, never having seen him 
before, and told him that I gave no sittings to any 
one only for medical examinations, but there were 
test mediums who made a business of it. He insisted, 
saying he had very singular reasons for wishing it. I 
said, drawing a little table up to me, put your hand 



142 THE EEASON WHY. 

on this table, and we will see if I can tell you any- 
thing, but I never go into a trance for this kind of 
business for any one. I had no sooner laid my hands 
on the table than I saw a coffin with the word " Rest," 
"S. H." on the plate, a life insurance policy unsigned, 
a lady with an infant in her arms, and a sister with 
her. " You must be a great medium," I said, " as I 
am in my normal condition, and see very strange 
things." I heard a voice say, " Tell him John Picket 
is here. He is my son." The gentleman said he had 
come on purpose, as Mrs. S. H. had requested him to, 
when he came on with her body, and the persons I 
saw were all deceased members of his family. It was 
the means of changing his religious views, and he is 
now the leader of a spiritual society in Shreeveport, 
La. 

A few weeks ago a friend of mine died very sud- 
denly ; about ten days before her death, she called 
upon me, and I told her I had been very anxious 
about her, and was impressed that she must take care 
of herself. You know you can have some of your 
flesh taken off, for I fear apoplexy. I then said I 
have wanted to see you, as your daughter, Mrs. E. C, 
has influenced me concerning you, and at last I told 
her to send you here. After chatting awhile in a 
friendly way, I said, " Well, you and I know spirit 
communion to be a reality ; and if you pass away, I 
know it would be the most natural thing in the world 



THE REASON WHY. 143 

for you to come to me, or for me to come to you." 
And when she left that clay, my impression was so 
strong, I should never see her again alive, that I could 
not contain myself, but flung myself into a chair, and 
began to cry. My husband coming in, was alarmed, 
thinking I had heard bad news ; but when told what 
it was said : " You are very foolish ; you cannot alter 
anything. Why feel so miserable." I said, " Because 
some one is telling me thus and so." But I drove it 
from my mind. Who will tell me where those sad 
forebodings come from, or why the shadows fell over 
me, if there is not something to impress our spirits. 
Shortly after she fell in the street, was taken into a 
house, and lay in an unconscious state three days, and 
passed over. 

While we were expecting her death I became con- 
vinced that I should know when she passed away, 
although at a distance from her, and hearing in the 
morning she could not live an hour, expected she had 
passed on, but still thought I should know. At 
twenty minutes past eight o'clock in the evening, I 
felt some one grasp my arm, and call me by name ; 
my husband being present, we looked at the clock 
and made a note of it. When he went to inquire at 
what time she died, was told she passed away at seven 
o'clock and forty minutes, (or twenty minutes to 
eight). This was on Monday evening; the next Fri- 
day, about half-past five, she came and manifested by 



144 THE REASON WHY. 

raps, and I talked with her for more than an hour ; 
giving us further evidence of communication with 
loved ones. It would be no satisfaction for us to 
deceive ourselves, and some persons talk as if we did 
not prove anything. Why, we are the most severe in 
our investigations, and believe nothing unless given in 
the most* reliable way. Sceptics and unbelievers have 
no idea of the ways and means we use to prove 
whether it is our friends or not ; we do not believe all 
we hear or see, but " prove all things and hold fast to 
that which is good." I have no more doubt that Mrs. 

L came to me than I have that the sun rose this 

morning. 

Open the door, God's angel of peace ; 
Give all the children of earth their release : 
Give man the knowledge that selfishness and sin, 
The bigoted priests, have striven to keep in. 
Tell all God's children to believe, never doubt, 
As the kingdom of God is within, not without. 



THE KEASON WHY. 145 



CHAPTER XXL 

A young man, a member of the Boston fire depart- 
ment, was killed at a fire in the city. We were 
neither of us, (myself or daughter,) acquainted with 
him or his friends ; but he had heard of me as a me- 
dium, and made light of it before his death, never 
thinking it would be an avenue which he would avail 
himself of after he had been emancipated from the 
physical body ; and while his body was being carried 
to Mt. Auburn, he came to my guides, and wished me 
to write to his mother, as soon as she returned from 
the funeral, as it would in a measure restore her to 
herself, he being " afraid she would lose her mind." 
None of my controls or guides could give his ideas. 
Only the poet could give his feelings expression, 
through me, he had so recently and' suddenly passed 
away. This is what they improvised for him, on that 
occasion, and I sent it to his mother. 

" Just over there, from the din and the darkness, 
When all the shadows have passed away, — 
Just over there, I was met with such gladness, 
Out from earth's tabernacle I hardly could say. 



146 THE REASON WHY. 

Just over there, with its joy and glory, 
When my dark vision was first cleared away, 
Just over there, can I tell all my story, — 
Thought I, what father and mother would say. 

Oh, my dear father, when memory gathered, 
All the past incidents came to mv view ; 
Oh, how in anguish, I first did discover, 
I, for a while, must be parted from you. 

Then, Oh, dear mother, how memory lingered 
Around the dear words I last heard from you ; 
Then came the thought, that God, in His goodness, 
Had shown me a way ; I could bid you adieu. 

Just over there, with all suffering ended, 
Thought I of bright hours, hardly pass'd away, 
And the sweet voice, as with mine it blended, 
With music and laughter, as happy as day. 

Just over there, from sister and brother, 
Came I to consciousness, standing alone ; 
When the great law of attraction made pathway, 
And by your sorrows, I was attracted to home. 

Oh ! such a scene as met my returning, 
From the sad hearts and anguish of home ; 
And I so struggled, like a man that was drowning, 
To say I am here ! loved ones, do not mourn. 

I know the place vacant, and the form that is absent, 
Can never be filled by another but me ; 
But I come, tho' unseen, by your mortal vision, 
So hear my soft whispers, I'm coming to thee.' 



THE REASON WHY. 147 

Oh ! father, and mother, and sister, and brother, 
And her whom I loved, when my body was free, 
Just over there where my spirit is waiting, 
I am watching and waiting my loved ones for thee. 

Tell all my comrades, who fought the great battle 
With me, side by side, in the duties of life, 
If true to our souls, no matter if rattle 
Brick walls, and rubbish, and fire in the strife. 

Tell all our friends, who in sympathy mourn me, 
All their kind thoughts arise but to bless ; 
And after I'm stronger, if God's laws are willing, 
I'll do all I can for their happiness. 

So mother, dear mother, my thoughts still linger 
Around thy loved image ; they always will be, 
For God, in His wisdom, has done well by His children, 
And by His great love I'm returning to thee. 

Oh ! father, be strong ; don't bow down in sorrow, 
But look to the realm where I'm waiting for thee ; 
And think how much better, to fall in life's duties, 
Than by earth's temptations, as many you see. 

I heard the sweet music, and saw the commotion 
Within our church, so much loved by thee, 
And heard my loved pastor, in words that so kindly 
In sympathy to you, and so loving to me. 

And when all your toils and duties are ended, 

And I am then joined to some spirit band, 

I'll come with such music as we have in heaven, 

And bear all my loved ones, to our bright summer land. 



148 THE REASON WHY. 

One summer evening, not long since, I was tired 
and thought I would retire early. At about eight 
o'clock commenced to make preparations, when a 
hand touched me, and some one said, " go at once to 
29 Buckingham St., you are wanted." I was sur- 
prised, as I was then living in East Boston, (132 
Princeton St.,) and it would at least take an hour to 
go from where I lived, provided I caught a car on 
time. My brother, O. W. N., had a room at 29 
Buckingham St., which he occupied when in the city; 
a nephew kept the house. I put my things on, took 
my medicine bag and started, and entered the house 
just after the bell struck nine, looked into the room 
where my niece sat sewing, and asked, "is O. W. in?" 
" No," said she, " I've not seen him to-day." I said, 
" I was over here, and have something to leave in his 
room." Nothing daunted by her saying he was not 
in, I went up to the room, and it was dark ; opened 
the door, when some one said, " who's there ? " I 
said, " it's I ; " and there was my brother ; he had 
come to his room sick ; knowing my niece was a feeble 
woman, he did not let her know ; and I assure you, he 
was very glad to see me, and my medicine satchel. I 
stayed and cared for him, and while there, had many 
pats on my shoulders, as if they (the spirits) were 
pleased because I had paid attention to them, in 
coming to help my brother. I gave the credit to my 
darling spirit brother, William. 



THE REASON WHY. 149 

Every one will remember the winter of 1857-58; — 
how much suffering there was and how many there 
were that had to have assistance, that never before or 
since have needed aid from the public charities. I 
was serving on a committee to distribute money to 
that class. One morning, while sitting in my room 
sewing, some one (in spirit) came hurriedly to my 
side, and whispered in my ear, go and see Mrs. H., 
giving street and number, — saying they have shut 
off the water from her house this morning, and she 
has neither wood nor coal. I could not believe it, as 
she was a widow, with two sons. I thought she 
would feel insulted, so I told the spirit how I felt 
about it, as she owned the house. They answered, 
" she cannot eat the house, and they won't trust her 
for water." So I went and told her that some one 
had been talking to me. She seemed much surprised, 
and burst into tears, and said one of her sons was 
sick, and the other was out of work. I had never 
known her husband in life, and had not seen her for 
months. That spirit, whoever it was, must have 
known that I was on that committee, and had money 
to assist her. Who could have given me that infor- 
mation, if it was not some spirit friend interested in 
her welfare? 

That very same winter I was sick with congestion 
of the lungs, and one night I coughed so, that I was 
obliged to take medicine every half hour. I set my 



150 THE REASON WHY. 

lamp so that I could see the clock during the night. 
At about twelve o'clock, I heard whispering about my 
bed. I sat up to see what it was, when a woman, 
tall and thin, with her hair combed straight back, 
with a plain black dress on, hooked up in front, stood 
before me ; I thought it a warning of my death at 
first, but she glided past me, looking me steadily in 
the face, and said, " save N., save N." I had a friend 
many miles away by that name, and seemed to realize 
at once that he was in danger, I also knew that his 
mother died before I was born. While wondering 
what all this could^ mean, a sleepy sensation came over 
me, and the next I knew, I was walking the streets 
of Cincinnati, looking up at the houses, as if reading 
the numbers; when I came to No. — on a certain 
street, I went into the house, and there sat N., chat- 
ting with another person. I could hear their conver- 
sation, and remember how smokey the atmosphere 
seemed to be ; yet I never was in Cincinnati in my 
life. Next morning I wrote to him, telling him I had 
had a strange vision, and asked him what he was 
doing that his mother could not rest, and wanted me 
to save him from. To my astonishment, in less than 
a week he came to Boston to see me about it, and that 
saved his life ; as we afterwards learned that a plot 
had been laid to take his life, and get him out of the 
way, on account of jealousy. 



THE REASON WHY. 151 



CHAPTER XXII. 

Alice Dean, a lovely spirit, who came to me the 
first year after I became controlled, (eighteen years 
ago,) told us that she had died of disappointment, or 
a broken heart. Though young in years, she had no 
desire to remain on earth ; but after resting in spirit 
life eight years, she came to me, that through me she 
might finish, or continue her work. After prayer, by 
Dr. Kittredge, my control, she would influence me 
and sing. She was very lovely in disposition, and en- 
joyed visiting my patients with me, and encouraging 
them ; it would quiet them, and give them a great 
deal of happiness. When she first came to me, she 
approached me spiritually ; as I did not repulse her, 
she felt that she could help me, and in many of the 
long years I have passed through, amidst the cares 
and troubles of life, she has improved her own con- 
dition by helping me bear my burdens, and thrilling 
my soul with song, and throwing over me her love 
and sympathy, assuring me that she gave way physi- 
cally, because of her allowing disappointment and de- 
ception to prey upon her mental, and to use up all 



152 THE REASON WHY. 

the vital forces of the body, and in consequence passed 
from earth. How many women of to-day, sink under 
mental burdens, preferring to die young, rather than 
to put forth the energy to overcome the obstacles that 
surround, and the evils that beset them, when they 
should persevere to the end, working themselves out 
of their condition, by feeling that the duties of life 
are essential to their own growth, both mental, and 
spiritual. Oh, woman, although men may call us the 
weaker vessels, it is not always the stronger vessel 
that out-rides the storm. 

So if we do not get that encouragement, which is 
our due, from mankind, let it teach us that God's 
design is, that we have more intuition than man, and 
in consequence are stronger in those finer powers; 
and so what has been denied us in physical strength, 
is given more abundantly in intuitional perception. 
Be thankful it is so, as what the mother sees, thinks, 
and reads, developes the brain of her children. And 
I know my sisters would be more careful what is 
around and about them, and would try to cultivate 
more of those powers that tend to elevate the human 
race, did they know that it is the prenatal condition 
that blesses or curses their children. Would they 
continue in this listless state did they realize that 
what the mother's read, saw, or acted, or whatever 
affects the conditions that surround the mother, is in- 
delibly stamped upon her offspring? Genesis xxx: 
32—43. 



THE REASON WHY. 158 

Look around and about us to-day, and see the 
blasted men and women, those that have been cursed 
before they saw the light ; and if you heard them as 
I do, you too would realize, that they are not ignorant 
of what has befallen them ; they know too well that 
man's dissipations, and woman's lack of firmness, is 
filling the world with sorrow, suffering and infidelity. 
For when we find the children of Christian parents, 
with the mark of Cain stamped upon them, we well 
know that nothing can be hidden from the eye of 
nature's God; and so children of Christian parents 
act out in their lives, conditions that were thrown 
about them in secret ; and those fathers and mothers 
know the why and wherefore, and go on believing 
that God afflicts them for their good, when it is their 
own transgression of God's law, that is stamped upon 
their children ; " there are none so blind as those that 
have no wish to see." 

But I return thanks to thee, oh, loving spirit sister, 
who came to my spirit, when my body was tired out, 
and with that blending of soul sympathy, has given 
me such encouragement, that has strengthened my 
hand, upheld my spirit, and made my weary feet 
walk over all the obstacles in my pathway. 

Let others doubt spirit communion. They too, 
may drink life's bitter cup, and when they do, they 
too, will lose faith in the selfish love and false sympa- 
thy, that comes from the human race, and like me, 



154 THE REASON WHY. 

will hold up their hands toward the unseen realm, and 
feel the clasp of loving hands, and truly sympathetic 
souls, and hear the loving voices whisper, it will not 
always last : be true, be brave, and all will be well. 

Oh, my soul, what means this sadness ? 
"Wherefore, and why art thou cast down ? 
Let thy spirit go forth in gladness, — 
Here's the cross, and there's the crown. 

If thou art weary of life's conflicts, 
And thy soul is nearly drowned, 
Come what may, be always ready 
To bear the cross, and wear a crown. 

If in moments of temptation 
Look thou up, but never down ; 
Bow in reverence to life's duties. 
Bear the cross, you'll wear a crown. 

Here's our mediums, heaven bless them : 
Sickness and sorrow may on them frown ; 
They have seen their hours of sadness. 
Bore the cross, now wear a crown. 

No doubt the crosses of life, are in time, if we 
strive to do right, all worked out for our good, and 
the discipline we receive oftentimes strengthens us, 
and makes us firm in resisting the many temptations 
of life ; and we should all consider, that what may 
look right to us, understanding all sides of our own 
life, may look very differently to those who only see 
us from their standpoint ; they might be charitable to 



THE REASON WHY. 155 

us, if the}' could see us in the light we see ourselves, 
but we should hold our own individual rights so sa- 
cred, that their blessings, or curses, can have no effect 
whatsoever upon us ; for the saints are so few, and 
the sinners so many, and God so good, and man so 
prone to evil, that we should exercise our own sov- 
ereignty, or will, and strive for the right, regardless 
of what the world may say or do. Only keep the 
beacon light of God's love in our hearts, and wave 
the flag of individual thought and true worth in our 
lives, and by-and-by our own prosperity will teach 
others that we believe in a law of compensation, and 
that God's laws are so immutable, that right must tri- 
umph, and you will at least be satisfied with yourself. 
No belief can make one satisfied with him or herself, 
without a consciousness of right and wrong ; and the 
human face bears the impress of the spirit within, and 
like the face of the clock, bears sure indication of the 
regularity of one's life. When we hear any one say, 
they do so and so, because they think it is right ; the 
God within will always teach their spirit the correct 
way. 

Coming into my office one day, very tired, and 
planning in my mind to lie down as soon as I could, 
my girl said, " there is a woman wants to see you," 
it rose to my lips to say, " I cannot see another pa- 
tient to-day ; " but duty, that stern master, kept me 
silent, and I passed into the office, and found a wo- 



156 THE REASON WHY. 

man sitting there waiting for me. She wore a large 
wide ruffled cap upon her head, a shawl thrown hasti- 
ly about the shoulders, and when I said, "what is 
wanted," she looked up and exclaimed, " are you the 
woman that cures folks ? " I said, " I try too, some- 
times." " Well," she said, " me old man is very bad, 
and no one can help him ; they say he must die. But 
I heard of the likes of ye, and come at onct." " Have 
you had other physicians," I asked. " O, yes ; we've 
had four," giving me the names of well known physi- 
cians. " Well," I replied, " you certainly have had 
enough to kill him ; four physicians from Monday 
morning till Friday noon ; but I will go and see what 
I can do." 1 followed her, and truly had no heart in 
the matter, I was so tired ; and besides I had deter- 
mined not to take foreigners in my practice ; but the 
woman's grief-stricken face, enlisted my sympathy, 
and as we walked along, she told me that they said he 
must die. " But he's been a good old man to me, and 
I want to do all I can for him," said she. 

Arriving at the house, I went up a flight of stairs 
into a square room, where were a dozen or more 
women talking. I passed through into a bed-room, 
and beheld a man about sixty years of age on the bed, 
going from one side to the other in agony. I placed 
my hand upon his forehead, and said, to the woman, 
" what is this man's name ? " " Be sure, ma'm, it is 
my husband, Mr. E." I said, " Mr. E., if you will be 



THE REASON WHY. 157 

quiet a moment, I will tell you what the trouble is ; " 
and I told him. It was congestion and inflammation 
of the kidneys. I called for a quart of water, cup of 
salt, jug of hot water put to his feet, and turned to 
put some medicine in a tumbler to give him to drink, 
when I beheld a Catholic priest in spirit, holding up 
to me a cross, and smiling to me. I placed a goblet 
to the sick man's lips, in which I had dissolved a pow- 
der, then bowed to the spirit priest my thanks, and as 
it was four o'clock P. M., turned to the wife and said, 
"I will see him again this evening," and left. 

In the evening, when I called, I never ascended 
stairs with such forebodings, and it was only the 
desire to see the priest again, that gave me any en- 
couragement for my patient; but when I passed 
through the first room, I felt that there had been a 
change, and when I passed into the bed-room, the 
first greeting was, "it's welcome ye be, for ye've 
taken the heat all out of me;" and the pipe, which 
he was smoking, went under the pillow at once. I 
gave medicine, and orders for the night, when he 
looked up to me and asked, " when shall I get relief 
from this terrible suffering?" At that time, the 
priest I had seen before, came up to me and said, 
" say two o'clock to-night." I turned to the sick 
man, and said, " two o'clock to-night." Then telling 
his wife I should remain in my office to-night, as I 
have many sick patients, and if your husband gets 



158 THE REASON WHY. 

entire relief, come and ring my door bell, as I shall be 
anxions about him, and went home. And at five 
minutes past two that night, she rang my bell, and 
said he was easy and sleeping, as nature had assumed 
her natural conditions. 

I went the next morning, and found my patient 
waiting anxiously for his breakfast. As I came out 
of the house, the priest approached me, and on the 
cross which he held out to me, lay a crown, and look- 
ing up into my face said, " no cross, no crown," and 
passed from sight. 

I have never seen those persons since, but know the 
man is living ; and in three days from that time, he 
was atThis business. "What brought that priest there, 
and what he had to do with me, is a problem I leave 
to those who call us deluded, to solve ; and who are 
so self-conceited, that they do not think that God has 
given His angels charge concerning us. - But let me 
assure you, that they that seek shall find. 

God's loving hand will guide our way ; 

And if we ask His tender care, 

He will not fail us, but will prove, 

That He is strong ; the mountains He can move. 



THE REASON WHY. 169 



CHAPTER XXIIL 

man's protection to woman. 

It has been said that " man's inhumanity to man," 
is beyond comprehension. If so, who can compre- 
hend man's injustice to woman, and the terrible con- 
sequences that follow it? I do not expect this to 
apply to women who sit lazily at home, and are sup- 
ported by their lords and masters. Ah ! no, those 
are not the women I write of, but are made up ladies 
for the occasion, more like dolls, and quite as useless ; 
but the true and sincere woman, who takes an interest 
in life, and tries to understand her duties, and realizes 
the responsibilities which rest upon her. My obser- 
vation in life, and my experience as a woman and 
physician, and what I have gained from others, by 
their sad experiences, I have come to the conclusion, 
that man's protection to woman is a libel upon the 
name of protector. For in life woman would not 
need to be protected, if it were not for men. For 
when we fly from the bad man to the good to protect 



ItiO THE REASON WHY. 

us physically, it is because we feel that they have 
more physical strength ; and often find that to escape 
physical suffering, women leave a bad man, and rush 
to the protection of a good one, and find, too late, 
that they are only kept true, by the true and virtuous 
women they come in contact with. A young girl was 
in my office not long ago, that had suffered every 
thing from the abuse of a dissipated father, and bore 
the stripes upon her person, where he had inflicted 
blows to make her give her money to him. A so- 
called good man came one day, and took pity on her, 
and assisted her out of that terrible condition ; but, 
of course, swamped her morally, for his kindness, and 
she came to me for advice. There are more Jennie 
C.'s than one, and many just such protectors. It is 
said " God placed every thing in subjection to man," 
and woman comes under the law ; and why are not 
men held more responsible for these terrible acts ? I 
will answer why. Men make laws to suit themselves, 
and women have to abide by them ; but there will be 
a time when we shall all be where God's laws are uni- 
versal, and man will find that he will reap as he has 
sown. 

I was once obliged to go to New York on a night 
train, in answer to a telegram to see a sick patient ; 
and being alone, felt perfectly safe. It was a very 
heavy snow storm ; I laid my head on my muff, and 
went to sleep ; when I awoke, I found that two gen- 



THE REASON WHY. 1 01 

tlemen had moved over into a seat front of me. I 
got rested, and was road}' to chat, even with stran- 
gers ; one of them said to me, " you seem to take 
your journey very easy." I said, " yes, I am used to 
travelling." They then chatted upon various sub- 
jects. But one of them seemed very uneasy. Pie 
had not found out all he wanted to know. They 
asked what hotel I would stop at. I answered, " I 
have not yet decided." 

When we arrived at Hartford, one of them re- 
marked, " are you not afraid to travel on a night train, 
in a public car, alone ? " " O, no," I said, " there are 
no wild beasts on the way, and all I have to protect 
myself from, is men ; and I am amply protected from 
them always." Immediately one of these gentlemen 
handed me his card, — the uneasy wretch who had 
thrown out so many insinuations. I looked at it and 
smiled ; and when we arrived in New York, I took a 
carriage for the home of my patient, lie still tagging 
at my heels. As I stepped into my carriage, I said, 
" you will give my respects to your wife, Mr. W., and 
say to her, that her husband tried to insult her doctor 
on the cars, and acted like any thing but a gentle- 
man. But it is what we expect of such protectors." 
He was non-plussed, I assure you. I had seen his 
picture, and also his card before ; his card had been 
sent to me many times to put on his wife's box of 
medicine. 



162 THE REASON WHY. 

I may say many bitter things on this subject, but 
I assure my reader I will not deviate from the truth. 
Much as I admire true manhood and true woman- 
hood, just so much do I despise that class of men, 
who, like vampires, are destroying every weak woman 
that comes in their way, and use every means in their 
power to get an influence over them, and they escape, 
and leave their victim to weep. 

What are our scientists about, with all their knowl- 
edge, that they have never sent out a warning voice 
to the masses, concerning this subtile curse, animal 
magnetism, that so many men are using every day to 
lead to ruin the weak women whom it is their duty to 
protect ? 

I knew a young woman, whose husband ill-treated 
her, because she would not receive the attention of 
an old " libertine," that he might be hired to work by 
the year. She never forgave him, and when her chil- 
dren had grown up, she left him, and all her neigh- 
bors pittied the poor man with such a wife, when he 
had drank and gambled so, that he was willing to sell 
his own wife. What do you think of the seller and 
buyer, both husbands and fathers, and woman's natu- 
ral protectors? I am also acquainted with a lady, 
who sews every night till twelve o'clock ; rises again 
in the morning, who left her husband because he 
spent all his earnings drinking and playing dominoes, 
loafing in bar-rooms, or on the wharves, Sundays , 



THE REASON WHY. 1G3 

and the society to which she belonged, scandalized 
her so, that she was obliged to return to him to save 
her good name. 

I have had girls tell me, that when they have been 
seeking honest employment, and apply to men of dif- 
ferent firms, and would say, " why, we cannot work 
for so little,*' the man would look them in the face 
and say, " you must get some gentleman to pay your 
room rent." What kind of protection is that ? 
Crush woman down on wages, and force them to 
travel the street, to keep from starving and freezing, 
and then make a law to have them arrested by your 
immaculate police. And if I was the only woman 
living who dared to speak, I would tell the truth on 
the subject ; for it is infamous, that women are 
preyed upon in such a manner, by those who call 
themselves protectors. If you find a woman that 
follows man's examples, and turns vampire, is it to 
be wondered at that the lords of creation should be 
whipped once in a while with their own weapons ? 

My advice to my sisters is, put forth all the ener- 
gies God has given you. Be self-reliant, cultivate 
moral courage, fear nothing, love God, and maintain 
your own individuality. It is the best protection 
woman can have, and you need not fear the result. 
You will make a better wife, better mother, and com- 
mand the respect of mankind, and the love of women. 
That is all the world can give ; for it is the weak- 



164 THE REASON WHY. 

minded mothers that have been kept in subjection, 
that has filled our world with woe. 

Bless God, that through the open door of inspira- 
tion, woman can learn her rights, and exercise her 
abilities, in spite of opposition ; a new era has com- 
menced, and if we have fought step by step, for our 
position, we have no one to thank for our advance- 
ment, but God. 



THE REASON WHY. 165 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

ANIMAL MAGNETISM. 

The vampireisni of to-day is not confined to any 
one class, by no means ; and I shall not write con- 
cerning what I do not know. But if there is one 
thing more than another, that scientists should make 
themselves acquainted with, it is Animal Magnetism ; 
and every human being should be held responsible for 
its use, or the abuse of it ; for in the hands of the 
good and upright mm or woman, it is a blessing. In 
the hands of evil-disposed, it is a curse. 1st. Because 
it is an outgrowth from mesmerism, which has power 
to control the will of an individual, while animal 
magnetism controls the will and the body also ; leav- 
ing the spirit of the individual cognizant of the acts, 
without power to prevent them, or to exercise the 
will; and why God, permitted such a law, is more 
than my feeble mind can fully comprehend, unless, by 
the same law, that the beautiful sun that gives us 
light and life, by which we are all electrized, and 
everything is made to come forth, by its warming in- 



166 THE REASON WHY. 

fluence, and benevolent rays, will also destroy us, by 
burning up our very being, and scorch up everything 
that would sustain physical life, and also cause sick- 
ness and disease. The waters, which quench our 
thirst, keeps us alive, by the animal life in it; also 
cleanses our bodies from impurities ; and our ships 
sail on its mighty waters, and yet it will drown us, 
and become our greatest enemy. The lire that warms 
us, and cooks our food, while we keep it under control, 
is our friend ; but a terrible enemy, when beyond re- 
straint. The moon, with her silver rays, and calm 
light, will poison our food, and destroy human life. 
So in thinking over all our blessings, I find they can 
all be turned to our disadvantage. Even religion, too 
much of it, unbalances the mind, and makes some 
persons believe, that to live a natural life, is a sin. I 
have known two persons, one of which was afraid to 
sin, even in thought, so made themselves wretched 
and all about them ; and at last became an opium 
eater, and slept most of the time, fearing they might 
sin, in thought, if awake ; while the other, was thor- 
oughly demoralized, fearing nothing, and caring for 
no one ; and there was not much choice between 
them; showing that we must keep a well-balanced 
mind to enjoy health or happiness, or make those 
happy around us. I was glad to learn that there was 
a law concerning mesmerism, and persons were re- 
sponsible for the use they made of it. But animal 



THE REASON WHY. 167 

magnetism is used so indiscriminately, that its results 
are not much known. Yet the world is full of its 
sufferers. There is hardly a day passes, that we do 
not hear of some very strange and peculiar occurrences 
taking place, of persons being led by others, into all 
kinds of unlikely actions which is the cause of much 
unhappiness; and they really cannot underseand it 
themselves ; and yet j;here is a class who understand 
its workings, and practice it upon all they come in 
contact with, to their harm. We declare that class 
of persons are dangerous, and should be held respon- 
sible. 

I have known vampires, in the shape of men, to use 
their magnetism upon innocent women. Many an in- 
nocent girl is led to her destruction, for it is not neces- 
sary for the person to be present, in exercising animal 
magnetism. After it is once thrown upon them, in 
the most trifling way, they can be led, and not realize 
it themselves. I know a lady who was affected by a 
friend of her husband's, who would will her to meet 
him, when the pure wife would be frantic ; and she 
sent for me to come and see her. She had locked the 
door of her room, and thrown the key out of the 
window, to prevent going out, she so utterly despised 
the man ; and his being the friend of her husband, he 
would not believe anything against him. The country 
is filled with such " vampires," and some persons get 
their power by using manipulations on their patients. 



168 THE REASON WHY. 

Some willl give their money, and other valuables, to 
those who exercise the power over them. I had a 
patient once so ill, that she could not sit up all day. 
I would leave her in bed, and go out to attend to my 
patients, when on my return she would be missing. 
She would go to meet a gentleman, be gone till the 
next day, and when she returned, would sit and cry 
for two days. He married her, but no doubt will see 
his wickedness visited upon him before he dies ; but 
as he was just to her at last, I have wondered if he 
knew that he ruined her health by so doing. Many 
strange and singular incidents occur, which produce 
insanity from this cause, and it sometimes goes under 
the name of Love. Pshaw! there is no love about 
it ; and if the victim once mistrusts the person is try- 
ing to exert an influence over them, the most fearful 
hatred takes its place. Nature never intended coer- 
cive measures in love affairs. Love is the blending 
of two souls, while this power is the positive over the 
negative. 

I know a lady who was in the habit of going to 
a store for her many purchases, and in talking to a 
clerk, one day, had her bundle sent to her house. 
Not long after, one Sunday evening, she felt that she 
must go out. Upon going out, she noticed this clerk 
nearly opposite the house. He nodded, and she passed 
on to see a friend ; on returning, in about an hour, 
she met him again, but thought nothing of it. In a 



THE REASON WHY. 109 

few days she went to a strange meeting, and to her 
astonishment, he was there. The next week she went 
to the store, as was her wont to do, and after doing 
her shopping, stepped into a cafe, for lunch, and to 
wait for me ; but who should walk in but this same 
clerk, and she began to be terrified, feeling that he 
was trying to exert an influence over her, and spoke 
of it to me ; and for a long time never went out 
without company of her husband, and so broke the 
chain that that " vampire " was weaving around her. 

Husbands, be loving and kind to your wives. No 
third person can come between you and your wife, if 
there is true harmony, and you do not take some 
friend to turn vampire on you and yours. I once had 
a pet cat, and also a pet dove ; and one day I heard 
m}' dove moaning, and noticed it flying round a tree, 
and every time it went round, the dove would come 
lower and lower. I wondered what was the matter, 
when in the grass I beheld my cat, magnetizing the 
dove, and in so doing, gained a will-power over the 
dove, until she would have brought it within her 
reach. I caught up a stick and struck the cat, and 
killed my poor little dove. " The reason why " is, 
that the cat had so thoroughly magnetized the dove, 
that in striking the cat, the shock killed the dove. 

Let this teach human beings, that magnetism is not 
any thing that can be trifled with, neither by men or 
women. Let no -one get an undue influence over you; 



170 THE HEASON WHY. 

and if you find they have, exercise your own will, 
and throw it back upon them ; and aspire to God, and 
his ministering angels will assist you. I knew a lady 
who came near losing her life by one of these " vam- 
pires. " She was quite ill, but in health was a very 
positive woman, and very much interested in all the 
sciences. A strange gentleman called on her, on 
business. While there, he said " he was a phrenolo- 
gist." A lady present suggested that the sick lady 
have her head examined. The lady not refusing, as 
she had many very wonderful gifts, and was curious 
to see if he could tell any thing about them. But it 
seemed that the villain, for he proved to be such, had 
heard that the lady was a clairvoyant, and there had 
been a terrible murder committed, and he was anxious 
to get the one thousand dollars that was offered as a 
reward for the murderer; so, while examining her 
head, he placed his will-power on her, to send her 
after the dead body. And the lady, feeling some 
unusual effects from him, attributed it to the weak- 
ness, and the effect of the sick head-ache, from which 
she had been suffering ; and it seemed he went away, 
and left the effects upon her ; and coming in again, 
and seeing she was alone, and knowing that she was 
affected by his magnetism, tried to get her into his 
power. He had got control of her will and body, but 
could not control her spirit ; and so did not get the 
desired information. For two weeks she could see a 



THE REASON WHY. 171 

long, dark passage wa} r , with a woman holding a 
light, and two men carrying a human body, though 
the villain would not throw it off from her, as he 
knew she could tell him if not opposed by her spirit- 
friends. What did he care ? He did not believe in a 
future state, so he held her. But God never forsakes 
those who trust Him ; and she sought three other per- 
sons to break his power over her. At last a physi- 
cian, a good and noble man, came between her and 
his evil magnetism, and broke it, and by so doing, 
found a gifted woman as his wife, whose wonderful 
powers have been a blessing to them both, while she 
is blest with a kind and loving husband, to strengthen 
her in good works. So does God teach that evil will 
always be overcome with good ; as good is positive, 
and evil negative. Evil may triumph for a time, but 
goodness and truth shall last for ever. 

So, never give up, though your feet they may totter 
Circumstances may sometimes lead you astray ; 
But bring up a will-power, and fight in the battle, 
For God is all strength, He will not turn away. 

And then when you win, ymr glory'll be brighter, 
From the knowledge you've gained in the struggle with sin, 
But don't mind the scar, it may look bad and trouble, 
But, remember, it's only a mark on the skin. 



172 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

DR. WINCHESTER. 

Mediums cannot always tell who influences them, 
as there are days that many different influences may 
come to them, touch them, and not give them any 
idea who they are. You might be sitting in a very 
dark room, and any number of persons come silently 
to you, and place their hand upon your head, touch 
your hand, smooth your hair, and even whisper loving 
words to you, imprint a kiss upon your cheek, and 
you not seeing them, could not take your oath who 
they were ; but, at the same time, no one could con- 
vince you that you had not felt their touch, as when 
you cannot see, the sense of feeling is very acute. So 
it is with mediums. Then there are others. When 
they lay their hands upon you, they say, " I am Wil- 
lie, or Nellie," or whatever their name may be ; so 
you will know at once, and it is so pleasant to get the 
name, but it is not essential to prove the law of com- 
munication. 

My first control was Dr. Kittridge, as a medical 
instructor. He examined diseases through me for 



THE REASON WHY. 173 

eight years. Then he informed me that he had taught 
me as far as he was able, and brought to me a new 
teacher, Dr. Winchester. I felt very bad about it, 
feeling that I had lost a dear friend ; but soon learned 
to like the influence of Dr. Winchester, and he has 
been my medical guide for twelve years, for which I 
render him many thanks. To be convinced of the 
change, I wrote to Mrs. Webb, of New York city, a 
lady I did not know, who has her communications 
come on a closed slate, she only placing her hands on 
the table ; I asked her to sit, and call my guides. I 
then told them, (the guides,) to go there, and answer 
my questions, and give the name of my new guide. 
When the answer came, it was signed by Dr. Win- 
chester. At one time I was awakened at four o'clock 
in the morning, and asked to get up and prepare some 
medicine for a Mr. L., at City Hall. I was surprised, 
but Dr. Winchester said, "we cannot lose L. quite 
yet, I will send for it at seven to-night." I did as 
directed, but smiled when I thought of it. At seven 
L. came and said, " What have you for me ? " I asked 
" what he meant." " Well, I am to have some medi- 
cine from Dr. Winchester, to help me." He then told 
me that he was sick the night before, and was told to 
come and get his medicine. 

I must answer a question here that is often asked 
of me : " Why do spirits take uneducated persons to 
do their work through ? " Because those persons hav- 
ing an education, so much of it is false, and the mind 



174 THE REASON WHY. 

so prejudiced, that it is almost impossible to impress 
them strong enough to drive out that which they have 
become opinionated in, and so they rather educate a 
person in their own way, especially in the administer- 
ing of medicines, or in theology ; as one is to be given 
to the body, the other feeds the mind, and both are 
essential to a well directed life ; as the morals depend 
very much upon the condition of mind and body. 
When they have educated the person, in all that is 
necessary to the promotion of health, and learned 
them the simplicity of adapting remedies to the human 
body, and know that they are a success, they consider 
them well qualified in their work. Then the profess- 
ors leave them with a psycological control, and turn 
their attention to other students. This is why there 
is so much difference in the success of clairvoyant 
physicians. The reason is because their organizations 
are not developed to be physicians. Mediums should 
understand this ; to be successful as a physician, re- 
quires a well-balanced brain, and to be a natural 
chemist. The trouble with your physicians to-day is, 
they are too dependent upon secondary knowledge, 
and use medicines compounded by chemists who do 
not understand anything concerning disease. No 
poison should be given to h^pian beings. Do they 
not take enough in the food they are obliged to eat ? 
Surely they do ! 

Theology will be obliged to step down and out. 
So will physicians be obliged to take their own 



THE REASON WHY. 17.") 

poisons, and if need be, die from the effect; as there 
arc millions of spirits coming to earth, to clear the 
poisonous lilth that is thrust upon the human race, 
not only destroying the body, but retarding the growth 
of the spirit. So do not be alarmed ! Spirits of the 
celestial world are descending to your earth, like 
snow-flakes, all individualized ; but as soon as they 
reach your atmosphere, they unite in one great work, 
and will in time clear the malaria of poison out of 
your midst ; and then theology will weep, and wail, 
and gnash its teeth, and the chain of satan will be 
broken, which has bound you three thousand years. 

It is the cause of some anxiety in the ecclesiastical 
world, that their churches are diminishing in numbers. 
Be that as it may, they have not wandered far, as all 
spiritualists come out of the churches ; and if they 
were perverted in their spiritual views, spiritualism is 
not to blame ; but your " lost sheep " will be found, 
my friends, in the Fold of Spiritualism, at least twelve 
millions of them ! 

God's laws are slow, but never mind, 

His power is all the same ; 
But what he grinds is exceedingly fine, 

And we are not to blame. 
If we are chosen to do his work, 

We must not look behind ; 
The wheels will move, and we be crushed, 

And ground exceedingly fine. 



176 THE REASON WHY. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

SPIRITUALISM. 

Spiritualism is the true demonstration of spirit out 
of the body, while Christianity is a faith in spiritual 
things, without positive knowledge. The honest in- 
vestigator will most surely find truth, and knowledge, 
in spirit communion, if they are only patient, perse- 
vering, truthful, and honest themselves. No one is 
expected to find the "pearl of great price" every- 
where they seek it, but that is no reason that it is not 
to be found. If persons are patient for years accumu- 
lating great fortunes, how much more patient they 
should be in gaining such knowledge as will lift them 
out of the theological perdition for an eternity. The 
manifestations of spirits is a truth, that no sensible 
man or woman should dare gainsay, in a time like the 
present, and would only expose their ignorance of the 
law of inspiration in trying to refute it, and show to 
an intelligent people that they were behind the times, 
in at least, the most essential knowledge concerning a 
science which is moving the whole world. Men may 



THE REASON WHY. 177 

make great fortunes b}' over-reaching one another, 
but to understand a science that learns us to live here, 
and to take the best possible care of jour bodies, is 
the fortune we should most eagerly seek. "Money 
taketh to itself wings and flieth away," but the science 
of Spiritualism teaches us how to live here on the 
earth, and that knowledge can be taken with us to 
spirit life. Let others say, and believe what they 
may, I know, beyond a doubt, that spirits do commu- 
nicate with mortals ; that they can rap, touch, control, 
influence, impress, psycologise, appear, materialize, 
and write and talk to us, all under proper conditions, 
after they have left the human body ; but that they 
cannot do so at haphazard, I am well aware. Suppose 
a case : I wished a beautiful mansion built, and went 
to a contractor, and he agreed for a certain sum to 
build said mansion, but I was not willing for him to 
use his own conditions. He must not have an archi- 
tect, nor a mason, carpenter, plumber, gas-fitter, 
painter, or any of the conditions required in house- 
building, but simply give him specifications ; people 
would say I was an idiot, or crazy. Yet God gives 
our mediums power and special gifts, and persons ex- 
pect to be benefitted by them, or understand them, 
without complying with any of the conditions neces- 
sary, and then cry fraud, or that we are deluded. 
There are no more frauds in the spiritualists ranks 
than there are ignoramuses out of it (in proportion to 



178 THE REASON WHY. 

their numbers,) that think they know all there is to 
be known, when it would take more books than ever 
was printed on your earth to contain all we don't 
know. That spirits can influence persons for good or 
evil is proved in the bible, as well as by the manifes- 
tations of to-day, and if you aspire to be; and do good, 
your aspirations will be answered by inspiration, to 
elevate you and those you come in contact with, by 
producing harmony and sympathy • but if we allow our 
minds to become perverted, we will attract those in- 
harmonious spirits, who enjoyed making trouble here 
in life, and prefer the low and evil propensities of 
their natures to still keep their spirits in bondage, and 
near the earth, and may dwell near the earth for years, 
feeding their natures by influencing human beings to 
perform their dirty work for them. Teach this truth 
to drunkards, and you will find it the best temperance 
lecture to all inebriates, as they will all tell you the 
same story. They cannot account for periodical drunk- 
enness. But I say it is because they open the door 
by the habit of drinking, that lets the spirit have an 
influence over them, and they will run them until they 
use up all their vitality. Intemperate persons would 
do well to be warned by this. 

The science of Spiritualism cannot be learned in a 
few months, but it takes years of thoughtful study, 
and no one but an honest person who can take knowl- 
edge gained by other investigators, but will be tired 



THE REASON WHY. 179 

in their research, unless they are fortunate enough to 
be a medium themselves. No human being has a 
right to say what God has permitted to exist since the 
world began, is false, or uncalled for. Ignorance, 
bigotry, Christianity, have caused bloodshed enough, 
and crime, and murder runs riot in your world to not 
now have a religion that will teach men that there is 
no praying your sins out of sight, or of being absolved 
from them. The sins and the persecutions which 
have been perpetuated by the church are being now 
answered for, and Spiritualism, the white winged 
angel of peace, will yet spread her wings and soar 
from all your tabernacles of worship, and from your 
pulpits will the cry go forth, one God and Father, and 
universal love to all His children, with the gate of 
heaven left open that the tired and weary ones of 
earth may know that after this sojourn here, and duties 
done, there will be rest and peace, and no obstacles 
put in our pathway to prevent our progress. There 
are those who sneer at spirit rappings, and say, " Our 
spirit friends would be in better business than rapping 
on tables and walls." Now I see nothing disgraceful 
in raps, or tips. Do we not get our telegrams under 
the same law ? It is no discredit to our spirit friends, 
but it shows how terribly ignorant our earthly friends 
are concerning the law of communication, either in 
this world or the other. 

That tiny rap on my table has many times been 



180 THE REASON WHY. 

more to me than every friend I had in life, because I 
knew they were true ; and I have talked with those 
unseen friends, and been answered by raps, in the still 
hours of night, when it has cheered my sad heart and 
given me strength for the next day's duties which no 
human being could have given me. For if earthly 
friends assist one another they never let them forget 
the obligation they are under to them; that is what 
destroys love and thankfulness, as the obligation 
becomes burdensome, and the apparent blessing is 
changed to a curse. Not so with our spirit friends, 
their love and sympathy strengthens with our sorrow, 
as it makes us need them more. I so thank God for 
the tiny rap that has told me many times I was not 
alone. 

Men of means, feel it not only a duty but a privi- 
lege to help the weak ones of earth. Deal justly by 
those you employ, pay them what they are worth to 
you, and never lose sight of the fact, that all in the 
earth or on the earth belongs to God, and must be 
shared by all His children sooner or later, and when 
the wheel of events turns round, you nor your money, 
cannot prevent the equalization in the turning; for if 
you are just and honest yourself, you will throw that 
good magnetism upon those about you, and you will 
not be apt to find defaulters with you. But if in your 
inner life there is scheming and over-reaching, it will 
be felt by those in your employ and you will surely 



THE REASON WHY. 181 

influence them to do the very thing which } t ou fear, 
so is the law of God lashing you with a cane of your 
own making. 

I cannot do the subject of Spiritualism justice, it is 
so grand and immeasurable, but I try in my own sim- 
ple way to make it plain to my reader ; for after I 
have joined the heavenly throng, I want to feel that I 
have tried to lift the mantle of doubt and darkness 
from some of earth's children, and encourage them to 
come to the front and bring whatever experience they 
have, that through the interchange of thought we may 
become wiser and happier. I am convinced that men 
and women cannot be happy until they fully realize 
that their bodies are temples for the spirit, through 
which that spirit acts, and that it is their duty to keep 
the body carefully, and try to understand its needs, 
that the spirit may act in accordance with the law of 
harmony. How contented is the spirit within, when 
it has gained the knowledge that when strife and dis- 
cord shall cease, each one will gravitate to a home of 
rest and peace ; and when all doubt is removed con- 
cerning the next life, selfishness will not exist, for the 
soul will overflow with thankfulness, and our religion 
will come from within, instead of from without, and 
we shall then realize that all spiritual knowledge 
comes from God, and that we are as near Him to-day 
as in years gone by, and we need not return to the 
dark past, for the blessed present is ours. It has been 



182 THE REASON WHY. 

the religion of the past to crucify the body, and in so 
doing people have transgressed every law of life. 

Spiritualism teaches that the body needs recupera- 
tion and care, so that the spirit may learn wisdom, 
and not be clogged by a body without any of the 
proper faculties well developed- It does not disturb 
me in the least to know that there are those who 
ignore spirit communication, as I know positively that 
I have the daily assurance, and sooner or later, they 
too will be obliged to succumb to evidence that shall 
be beyond question ; and I am now enjoying the first 
fruits of the great feast prepared for the people, and 
I thank God that He has let His mantle of love fall 
upon me. For twenty years, in my practice, I have 
been assisted hj spirit influence ; they have not done 
my work, to be sure ; but they have given me infor- 
mation, quickened my mental, and stimulated my en- 
ergies ; and all I am, I attribute to my trying to be 
worthy of their counsel and love, and their watchful 
care over me. I shall never forget God and His mer* 
cies, but shall ever remember those untiring messen- 
gers of His love, by whom I have been sustained. 
And my success and lucrative practice of to-day, has 
come from hard study, and by the approval and dic- 
tation of my spirit friends. Although sorrow has 
been mixed in the cup which I have drank even to 
the dregs, yet I look back through the darkness of the 
past, and behold God's loving kindness and tender 



THE REASON WHY. 183 

mercies have been around and about me, and I have a 
blessed faith to lead me on, a religion based upon a 
science everlasting as the rocks, my children in the 
spirit world beckoning me upward ; my children on 
the earth hold me here while they need me, my 
mother, ever thankful that the angels thought her 
child worthy of their choice ; brothers and sisters en- 
joying different opinions, but in God's own time will 
know that the gates are left ajar for all His children ; 
a loving husband, who feels proud that he has been 
permitted to give strength and encouragement to a 
woman, whose moral courage has never deserted her ; 
though the storms and tempests of life have roared 
around her, opposition has never been able to over- 
come ; when the light was open to her view, and the 
many patients who have sought my advice, for their 
bodily ailments and their spiritual strength; all of 
these I will leave in God's loving care, knowing that 
as he has fed me- from angels hands, inspired me by 
angels voices, and poured over me the inspiration of 
the Holy Spirit, so he will give them as they shall 
stand in need. 



184 THE REASON WHY. 

LOVE'S DISAPPOINTMENT. 

It was cold, and drear and stormy, 

. And, battling with ice and with snow, 
I wandered so dazed and discouraged, 

Not knowing which way I must go ; 
But a thought in my soul, to the surface 

Came bubbling up out of the night, 
With tremulous feelings, but certain, — 

Go appeal to those in the light. 
Then I wended my steps on to Cambridge, 

To another soul, strong linked to mine, 
By a law, that one mother had given 

To the world, two lives at one time, 
I there met a sad disappointment ; 

He had gone to his home far away ; 
I returned to my home, sad and weary, 

So heart-sick I hardly could pray. 
But I left a kind word ; tho' so heavy, 

My heart was near breaking, that's true, 
I was tired of battling with trials, 

And I sought to seek comfort from you ; 
But, lo ! no interest was taken, 

And a shudder comes into my soul, 
When I think of relations so sacred 

Have all been bartered for gold. 
Was it indifference led to the disclosure, 

That no interest in me or in mine ; 
Had prosperity filled all the niches ? 

Was the soul sleeping then for a time ? 
Oh, no ! but God in His goodness 

Heard a prayer that was sincere and true ; 
I never might have any riches, 

If it makes me as forgetful as you. 



THE REASOX WHY. 185 

For sometimes when our friends have stumbled, 

And our hearts are trembling with fear, 
We look to those who are able, 

And think they will give us some cheer. 
But, lo ! while they are willing to help us, 

They wish to punish the same, 
And to reach the one that is guilty, 

They stab the one not to blame. 
But Jesus, that God-given brother, 

Who nourished and watered the seed, 
Came to tell us, Oh ! love one another, 

Though our hearts and feet they may bleed. 
So I crushed down the terrible feelings, — 

Like a serpent they coiled, round and round ; 
But at last 1 conquered ; with gladness, 

They were dead, no motion or sound. 
And I thank the giver of all goodness, 

For the strength to do what He willed ; 
That my spirit might not bear the blemish, 

And I say to my soul, " Peace, be still." 
But now with the love from another, 

No dearer, but loving and kind, 
Who came to my soul left a starving, 

And kept me from losing my mind. 
May you never feel sad or lonely, 

Broken-hearted and left to repine, 
Because your gold does not glitter ; 

Mine, is the kind that never will shine. 
March 24, 1879. 



186 THE REASON WHY. 



LOVE'S REALITY. 

Alone, amidst the storm and tempest, 
And the sky, so dark and drear, 
Came a voice, like some one calling, 
Calling, " help ! oh, do come here." 

•Then I listened and feared to follow, 
Lest my feet might go astray, 
For the darkness was so dense, 
And I did not know the way. 

To my soul there came a feeling, 
Can I risk another's mind, — 
To assist me in my trouble, 
Is there any soul that's kind ? 

Then I, too, sent forth a message, 
Calling loudly, " Help ! this way." 
A manly voice came forth in answer, 
I am with you, come what may. 

His noble presence gave me courage, 
And my sad heart he soon did cheer ; 
What's the use of my abundance, 
If your call I do not hear ? 

How I bless the day of darkness, 
That was so sad and drear to me, 
When I know by my experience, 
Another's soul was good and free. 

Roll ye on, dark, sad, and cloudy 
Days, that never can come again ; 
I have known, by my experience, 
You can only bring us rain. 



THE REASON WHY. 187 

For the love that was so hidden, 
'Neath the busy stir of life, 
Flashed upon me, like the lightning, 
To subdue discord and strife. 

Bless the hand that led me gently, 
Bless the heart that ope'd to mine ; 
Bless the word he spoke so kindly, 
Oh ! God bless him, he is thine. 



